Martha Ann Pils, 95, peacefully entered into eternity to be with our Lord, Jesus Christ, on Thursday, January 17, 2013.

Martha Ann Ott Pils was born on April 28, 1917, at McDade, Texas. She went to school at another central Texas town of Thorndale. Then the Ott family moved to the capital in Austin. Martha graduated from Austin High in 1934. She married Ernest Richard Pils of Austin in 1937. After his service in the Army during World War II, Martha’s family moved to Little Rock, Arkansas. Martha loved to sew and was a gifted seamstress. Many family members are proud owners of a quilt, lovingly stitched by her. She was an excellent cook, as the three boys she and Ernest raised can confirm. She spent many faithful years supporting her Lord and Savior in many service capacities at Grace Lutheran Church in Little Rock. Her name is etched in glass, with many other public school Mothers of Little Rock, on a special wall at the Terry Mansion downtown. Martha always said she played a minor role, but she and the other ladies were members of the Women’s Emergency Committee, which was formed to help get the schools reopened during the education crisis of 1958 and 1959.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Ernest, in April, 1973. Upon learning of Ernest’s illness of emphysema, Martha went back to school to become a Licensed Vocational Nurse, so she could be by his side and be better equipped to care for him. She continued for another ten years as an LVN, often working in the Emergency Room and then retired from Saint Vincent Infirmary. Martha was preceded in death by her five siblings, John Ott, Margaret Ewing, Kittie Ott, Robert Ott, and Jean Williams Banks. Survivors include her three sons, Richard Pils and wife, Sharon of Dallas, Chris Pils and wife, Betty of North Little Rock and Greg Pils of Fort Worth. Martha was “Grandmom” to five grandchildren, Doug Pils of San Antonio, Holly Pils of Fort Worth, Becky McGibson of Fort Worth, Eric Pils of Denver and Danielle Wilbert of Luke AFB, Arizona. There are seven great-grandchildren, Cole & Nash & Ayla of San Antonio, Kyla & Kaya & Kaylen of Arizona and Elan of Denver.

There will be a graveside service at Oakwood Cemetery, 1601 Navasota Street, Austin, Texas, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan 26, 2013. In lieu of flowers, donations are welcome to Grace Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 250769, Little Rock, AR 72225 in her honor. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.

Published in Austin American-Statesman on January 20, 201