Barbara Hale Martin

Barbara (Granger) Hale Martin, 85, a longtime resident of Westford, Massachusetts, passed away at home peacefully on Saturday, May 2, 2026, following a short battle with glioblastoma. She was the beloved wife of 62 years to David Martin.

Barbara was born on January 31, 1941, in Colchester, Vermont to Clayton Hale Sr. and Bessie Granger Hale. She was raised and educated in Syracuse, New York. She graduated from Central High School in Syracuse, and earned her bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University in 1962. It was at Syracuse University that Barbara met David, beginning a partnership that would span more than six decades. She was a proud member of the Delta Gamma sorority during her years at Syracuse.

On July 20, 1963, Barbara married David, and together they built a loving home and raised four children. Over the first 17 years, Barbara and her growing family lived across the United States and overseas, including Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Illinois, California, Colorado, Iran, New York and Massachusetts. Barbara volunteered and was a teacher at these various places. She and David moved to Westford in 1979, where they lived until her passing.

Barbara cherished time with her family, especially her grandchildren. She could often be found gardening at her home. She was an avid backyard birdwatcher, delighting in attracting and spotting birds and sharing her finds. Barbara took pride in extensively decorating her home for every season and holiday, and enjoyed many crafts such as wreath making, ceramics, scrapbooking, and paper crafts. She kept extensive photo album collections of the family and spent time looking at these albums and sharing them with others. Barbara was committed to researching the family’s genealogy and maintaining her family’s history through documents passed down for 100 years or more. She also enjoyed playing word and card games, and was a particularly competitive Quiddler player.

In addition to the many places she lived, she and David loved to travel and Barbara visited most of the United States and four continents. From childhood to her passing, Barbara treasured time with her family at Skaneateles Lake, New York, including with her grandparents, parents, siblings, cousins, children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Barbara was predeceased by her husband David, who recently passed in January 2026 and left her broken-hearted. She is survived by her children: Ross Martin and his partner Deborah Blazey-Martin of Waban, MA; Kristina Martin of Boston, MA; Kimberly Keiper and her husband Eric Keiper of Washington, MA; and Karen Brightwell and her husband John Brightwell of Wellington, New Zealand. She is also survived by eight grandchildren: Alexis, Jackson, and Aurora Martin; Katherine Martin; Juliane and Emily Keiper; and Helen and Samantha Brightwell; as well as many loving nieces, nephews and in-laws. Barbara is survived by her siblings Clayton Hale Jr., Merton Hale, and Betsy Hale and was predeceased by her brother Dean Hale.

Services will be private.

In lieu of flowers, tax-deductible donations in Barbara’s memory may be made to the Mass Audubon Fund:

Development Office

Mass Audubon

208 South Great Road

Lincoln, MA 01773 Mass Audubon

Arrangements are under the care of Badger Funeral Home, A Life Celebration Home, 347 King St., Littleton, MA 01460. 978-486-3709