Martha W. (Whitmer) Bark

MARTHA W. BARK of Medford, whose election to a local school board in 1973 initiated a career in public service spanning 35 years, passed away May 1, 2015.  She was 86.  Mrs. Bark was born July 30, 1928 in South Bend, Indiana, the daughter of the late Harold and Hazel Whitmer.  She went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from DePauw University.  Mrs. Bark relocated to Medford in 1959, where she would become one of the earliest members of Faith Presbyterian Church in Medford.  She also developed an active interest in her children’s education, so much so that she would run, successfully, for a seat on the Medford Board of Education, which she held for five years, one year as President.  The school board became a springboard for Mrs. Bark, who would go on to win elections to Medford Council (1980-1987); Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders (1984-1997); New Jersey State Assembly (1995-1997); and the New Jersey State Senate (1997-2008).  As a freeholder, and later, as a legislator, she worked tirelessly for pro-agriculture initiatives, and aggressively pursued farmland preservation.  Today, Burlington County is the State wide leader and a national leader in acreage saved from development.  As a freeholder, Mrs. Bark also spearheaded efforts to restore Historic Smithville County Park in Eastampton, NJ.  Today, Smithville is a showcase for both historic and environmental resources, and is home to the County’s heavily-attended Earth Fair.  She sponsored State appropriations for farmland and open space preservation, to eradicate gypsy moths, and to rebuild dams destroyed by the 2004 floods in Burlington County.  Her career in the State Senate was marked by membership on three key committees, Budget and Appropriations, Joint Committee on the Public Schools, and Economic Growth, which she chaired.   Senator Bark developed a reputation for intensely studying legislation and issues.  She cosponsored bills in numerous categories, including legislation to redevelop Camden City, and other legislation to assist consumers, such as energy deregulation, to support military veterans, and to support the equine industry.  Notably, Mrs. Bark achieved a number of other milestones; she was the first woman to serve as school board president and mayor in Medford, and held leadership positions in the Senate.  She was also one of the founding members of the Burlington County Republican Women, which is dedicated to enlisting and supporting women for elected office.  Mrs. Bark is survived by two daughters, Linda Hamilton (William) of Medford, and Kimberly Neill of Tega Cay, SC; a son, James Bark (Denise) of Haddon Township; a sister, Jeanne Meek of Charlotte, NC; and six grandchildren, Kelley, Casey, Kyle, Matthew, Katie and Lauren.  Relatives and friends are invited to her viewing on Wednesday, May 20th from 5:00 – 9:00 PM at the BRADLEY & STOW FUNERAL HOME, 127 Medford-Mt. Holly Road in Medford, NJ.  A Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, May 21st at 2:00 PM at Faith Presbyterian Church, 318 Stokes Road, Medford.  Mrs. Bark will be laid to rest in Odd Fellows Cemetery in Medford.  In lieu of other expressions of sympathy the family requests donations to The Friends of Smithville, C/O P.O. Box 1542, Medford, NJ 08055. (www.BradleyStow.com)

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