Martha Louise (Warren) Pohl, 90, died Aug. 14, 2023, at her 1889 homestead surrounded by her loving family. She was the beloved wife of Rev. Dr. David C. Pohl, with whom she shared nearly 68 years of marriage.
Martha was born Nov. 10, 1932, the daughter of Edwin H. and Helen M. (Pearson) Warren. Martha grew up on the Family Farm, valedictorian of her class at Chelmsford High School. She studied at Lowell General Hospital, graduating in 1953 as a Certified Registered Nurse, and served four years at Mass. General Hospital in Boston.
On Oct. 26, 1954, she met her future husband David at his ordination at the First Parish in Bedford MA. They were married in 1955. In 1957, she gave birth to their first child Elizabeth Louise and in 1962, Eric was born. They moved to the First UU Church of Cleveland OH, in 1957 and four years later to the First UU Congregation of Ottawa ONT. A decade later, they moved to Boston, where David joined the Department of Ministry at the UUA, where he served until retirement in 1993.
Martha resumed her nursing career at MA nursing homes in North Reading, Stoneham, Lexington, and later in Acton. In 1985, she joined David in a four-and-a-half month sabbatical in Australia, where he served the Unitarian church in Adelaide. In the closing days of their time there, an invitation came to attend a reception for a visiting Queen Elizabeth, as she unveiled a statue honoring Catherine Helen Spence, a Unitarian suffragist.
When Martha’s father died in 1986 he left Martha his Chelmsford home and shared ownership of the farmland with her brother Franklin. Franklin farmed the land, but died in 2015. Five years later, the Pohl and Warren families sold the 54 acres to the Town of Chelmsford, creating The Warren-Pohl Conservation Reservation.
In retirement, Martha and David enjoyed gardening, their 1967 Vermont cottage, and travel. Her life was abruptly interrupted in mid-April this year with a major stroke. She was initially recovering, but then suffered several setbacks that led to a private, poignant conversation with David in which she sought his agreement that she begin home hospice care. It was a profoundly sad promise grounded in their deep and abiding love.
In addition to her husband, Martha is survived by her daughter Elizabeth Louise (Dean Corner) of Augusta ME, and granddaughters Miriam Elizabeth of Lowell MA, and the Reverend Erica Rose Long of Cambridge; her son, Eric Warren (Mary Patricia Anderson) of Chelmsford, and grandchildren Ethan Warren of Kingston ONT; Elena Ruth of Sherbrooke QUE.; Laura Elizabeth of Westmore VT; Andre Anderson of Chelmsford, and numerous nieces and nephews.
The public is invited to a Memorial Service Sunday, Oct. 8, at 2 p.m. at the First Parish in Concord, 20 Lexington Road, Concord MA. A reception will follow. Memorial donations may be made to the Town of Chelmsford/Warren-Pohl Reservation, 50 Billerica Road, Chelmsford MA 01824.