Luann Habegger Martin, wife of USAID alumnus Ray Martin, died peacefully in her sleep at 12:05 AM on Tuesday, July 14, 2015, at her home in McLean, Virginia. As her health declined from an aggressive cancer, she chose to focus on the positive, giving thanks for the 66 beautiful, fulfilling years of life she was given.
Luann was born on January 17, 1949, in Berne, Indiana, to C. Earl and Donna (Roth) Habegger (both deceased). She married Raymond Sauder Martin, originally from New Holland, Pennsylvania, on September 13, 1975, in Berne. In addition to her husband, she is survived by two children, Annette Martin Ozaltin and Gregory Habegger Martin, both of Washington, DC, and a six-month old grandson, Emerson Troy Ozaltin.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in English at Goshen College in Indiana. Following a year in peace studies at what is now the Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Indiana, she pursued a master’s degree in International Development at American University in Washington, DC. After a volunteer position at the Mennonite Central Committee Peace Office in Washington, DC, she joined her husband in his Foreign Service career with the USAID, serving in Ghana, Cameroon, Pakistan, and Zaire (now DR Congo).
In her professional life, she focused her writing and organizational talents on promoting mother and child health and nutrition, working with prominent international organizations including UNICEF, USAID, and FHI 360, where she retired last December as Associate Director for Communications for a global maternal and child health project. Work colleagues around the world speak admiringly of her contributions to child survival and health in developing countries.
She served USAID in many short-term consultancies at her husband’s various postings as well as with USAID-funded firms in Washington. These assignments were primarily in project evaluations and as an advisor and communications coordinator and technical writer in the area of maternal and child health.
She was devoted to family, actively involved in church, and enjoyed cooking, entertaining, reading, theater, and travel. She was kind hearted, creative, principled, and an attentive listener.
A memorial service was held August 1 at Lewinsville Presbyterian Church in McLean, VA. A video of the service is online at http://insete.com/LuannMartinMemorialService/
Condolences can be sent to her husband at 1817 Rupert Street, McLean, VA 22101, or by email to martinrs@aol.com. Memorial donations may be made to the global mother and child health activities of Mennonite Central Committee, P.O. Box 500, Akron, PA 17501, designated for the Luann Martin Memorial, or online at https://donate.mcc.org/registry/luann-martin-memorial
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