Post Mills, Vt. —
Marty came into the world on Aug. 15, 1944, the last of eight children born to Robert A. and Lucia Sleeper Babcock. After the passing of her father when she was 15, Marty and her mother moved from Greenfield, Mass., to “The Farm” on Spring Road in Tunbridge, Vt,, and she completed her education at South Royalton High School.
Marty married Craig Chapman in 1963 and, until the time of their divorce, they made their home in Tunbridge with their two children, Heidi and Michael, up behind The Farm, a special place that deepened Marty’s love of Vermont’s hills.
While the biggest focus of Marty’s life was sharing her love with her children and grandchildren — Lindsay, Carley and Hattie — her best chapter began when she met Benjamin Tilden in 1989. They were married in 1990 and made their home in Post Mills. The strength of their love was built on trust, teamwork, generosity, laughter, and an appreciation for life. Marty very actively embraced her new surroundings and community and developed a lasting love for Ben’s daughters, Lori, Sarah, and Martha and their 15 children.
Marty loved being home preparing food for others, sewing, and catching up with friends and family on the phone, ever-interested in their lives and doing whatever she could to bring help and happiness to all. She and Ben hosted his family at “the campsite” every summer as well as reunions for her Babcock family who lovingly knew her as “Marnie.” Marty enjoyed trips to the Maine coast to visit her son and granddaughters and made regular visits to nearby friends and neighbors, especially the farm crew next door, to share her homemade meals and goodies. She loved live music, dancing, picking berries, tooling around on her favorite vehicle — the lawnmower — and sitting on the porch surveying the world that she and Ben shared together.
Marty’s concern for others and her need to share and help were accented by her inquisitive nature and love of laughter. Her beautiful blue eyes and warm heart will be missed by all.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 19 at the Post Mills Congregational Church in Thetford, followed by refreshments. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Second Wind Foundation, 200 Olcott Dr., White River Jct, VT 05001 in support of Upper Valley Turning Point.