Martha Vander Plaats

Martha Elvira Vander Plaats, 93, of Centennial, Colorado, passed away July 23, 2021, surrounded by family.

The daughter of John Francis and Lula Geraldine Pearce Watson, Martha Elvira Watson was born June 5, 1928, in Ogdensburg, New York.

Martha was raised in Northern New York state and graduated from Russel Sage College with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and was very passionate about her career as a RN/BSN nurse. She married James Stewart Kilburn and moved to California. Eventually they moved to Western Colorado where they raised 3 children: Wendy, David, and Bradley. In the middle 70s, she moved to the Eastern slope of Colorado and worked as a nurse in the Denver area. She later married Hubert Henry "Van" Vander Plaats, whom she was married to for 19 years.

During her life she enjoyed square dancing, family, her church, working on home projects, and traveling.

Martha is survived by her daughter, Wendy Kilburn Adamson (Gary Walker); and son, Bradley Kilburn; she leaves behind 9 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her first husband, James Stewart Kilburn; her beloved husband, Hubert Henry “Van” Vander Plaats; son, David Scott Kilburn; her sister, Frances Watson Baker; one grandson, Christopher Dennis Gonzalez, and four infant great granddaughters, Annie, June, Grace, and Adelaide Kilburn.

A Funeral service will be held at 11:00am on Monday, July 26, 2021, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1939 E. Easter Ave., Centennial, CO  80122. A viewing will be held at the Church from 10:00-10:45am.

Burial will be at Fort Logan National Cemetery on a date yet to be determined.

Family and friends are invited to share memories or condolences on the adjoining tribute wall. Thank you.