Martha Helen Bischoff was born on the family farm near Marion, Kentucky in 1925, the middle child of Gordon and Della Belt Winders. She attended grade school in a one-room school house a mile from home, later attending Marion High School. Following graduation, she enrolled at Evansville College in Indiana where she supported herself through work as an executive secretary at Servel, Inc., an engineering and manufacturing firm.
After earning a BA in Business Education and English, Martha continued to work at Servel where she met Harry Bischoff, a co-worker and returning war veteran who she later married. After they left Servel so Harry could enter college on the GI Bill, Martha began her career teaching high school Business and English in Paoli, Indiana. Following Harry's graduation from Evansville College, they moved to Nashville, Tennessee. Martha supported the family working in the dean's office at Vanderbilt University while Harry pursued an advanced degree there.
After Harry completed his master's degree at Vanderbilt, the couple moved to Seguin, Texas in 1950 where Harry accepted a position in the Biology Department at Texas Lutheran College. During the next twelve years, Martha gave birth to five children while working part-time in the TLC Business Department, teaching typing, shorthand and other secretarial skills. In addition to teaching part-time at TLC for over 15 years, she taught typing in the adult education classes offered by Seguin High School.
The most important aspect of Martha's life was her family. She loved nature, and enjoyed being outdoors and experiencing its beauty. She found comfort in American poetry—especially that of Robert Frost. She also enjoyed her association with TLC Faculty Women's Club and Emanuel's Lutheran Church Women. After her husband's retirement, they enjoyed traveling—often through Elderhostel programs. Her favorite trips often involved visiting national parks and botanical gardens.
Martha is survived by her daughter Becky Gilliland and husband Michael, son Chris Bischoff and wife Pat, son Tim Bischoff and wife Whitney, daughter Beth Raetzsch and husband Thomas, son Scott Bischoff and wife Farideh; grandsons Kurt Bischoff and wife Ashley, Andy Gilliland and wife Kate, Austin Bischoff and Alec Bischoff; granddaughters Amy Labbé and husband Thad, Sarah Gilliland, great granddaughter Hannah Gilliland, great grandsons Ascher Labbé and Benjamin Labbé; sisters-in-law Lorraine Winders, Mary Bischoff Giesler and Marilyn Bischoff.

Martha is preceded in death by her husband, Harry; sister Golda Winders Trower; brother Charles Ray Winders; grandsons Brent Bischoff and Michael Raetzsch.

Services will be held at Emanuel's Lutheran Church in Seguin on Sunday, August 26 at 2:00 PM, with Rev. Marcus Bigott officiating. A reception with family members will follow at the Fritz House on the campus of Texas Lutheran University. Martha will be laid to rest in a private ceremony on Monday, August 27, at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Harry Bischoff Scholarship, Brent Bischoff Scholarship or Michael Raetzsch Scholarship at Texas Lutheran University, 1000 W. Court, Seguin, TX 78155, or Emanuel's Lutheran Church, 206 N. Travis St., Seguin, TX 78155.