Martha Jane (Kreiger) Cline

Martha Jane Kreiger Cline, 84, passed away in her home in Carlisle, PA. Having suffered in her battle with cancer, she was freed from her body on January 25, 2025.

Martha led a full and rich life. Born on July 3, 1940, in Williamsburg, VA, to Yale Bryant and Jane Kreiger Huffman, she was raised in Denver, CO. While portions of her childhood were difficult due to family circumstances, she had fond memories of annual summer trips to a ranch. She entertained friends and family with stories from those days, including a midnight rendezvous with a bear on her way back from the outhouse. Following high school, Martha attended University of Colorado Boulder, where she met her first husband, James Dean McAfee. Married in 1960, they had three children. After relocating to the Washington, DC area, Martha focused on raising her family. She was a devoted mother to her young children. However, her first marriage did not last past 1974. In 1976, the children moved with their father to California.

Then began the third and longest era in Martha’s life – her partnership with the love of her life, Jeffrey Marvin Walder. It isn’t possible to capture the depth and breadth of their relationship in words. They were Bear and Bunny, lightning and thunder, Venus and Mars. For the first few decades, one of their most frequent pastimes was sailing on the Chesapeake Bay. They would escape from their jobs on Thursday afternoons, drive to the boat slip, and sail until having to return to work on Monday morning. During this period, Martha worked as the Town Manager for Somerset, MD, and then for the Town of Chevy Chase. When Martha’s children visited and stayed with them, evenings were spent in their expansive backyard in Bethesda. As the years progressed, things shifted. Martha retired from municipal government. Her short but successful career as a fine art photographer was cut short by an eye injury. Looking to the future, Martha bought a cabin in Newville, PA, where she could enjoy her love of gardening and Jeff could find ample opportunities to fly fish nearby.

After Jeff retired, they relocated to Carlisle, PA, also keeping the cabin on the creek in Newville. Their four grandchildren would come visit as much as possible, loving the freedom and simplicity of playing in the creek, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows over a fire, and tussling with Buddy, Nana’s gentle giant labradoodle. Those were the halcyon days for sure!

With age came illness, and the journey became difficult. Martha’s beloved Jeffrey passed in March 2020. She never recovered from the loss. Diagnosed with cancer in 2023, Martha gave all her strength and courage to the fight, until there was none left to give. She passed away peacefully at home, as she desired, her daughter by her side.

Martha’s family, including Jeffrey’s brother and his folk, gathered at her home for one last grand Thanksgiving dinner in 2024. Jeff and Martha loved Thanksgiving and had hosted many large family gatherings at their home over the years. It was a joyous and bittersweet time, where love and family were celebrated. 

Martha leaves behind three children, Scott McAfee, Melinda (and Telford) Locklear, and Alex Rhodes; four grandchildren, Zac Locklear, Grace Locklear, Forest Rhodes and Ben Rhodes; and daughter-of-the-heart Valerie Drobel.

Services will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers and in recognition of the amazing professional, tender and caring services provided to Martha in her final weeks, memorial gifts may be made to the Residential Hospice Foundation, https://residentialhospicefoundation.org/ways-to-give-2. Arrangements are being handled by Hollinger Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., Mt. Holly Springs. 

Per the families request, please no flowers be purchased. Thank you.