Martha Cole Baptista, age 93, a resident of Windsor Park in Carol Stream, IL, went to be with the Lord, peacefully at home on Tuesday, January 16, 2018. She was born on March 5, 1924 in Nashua, New Hampshire to George and Elizabeth Cole.

Martha grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and Buffalo, NY where she graduated from high school. While a student at Wheaton College she met Robert Charles "Bob" Baptista and they were married on April 17, 1946.

Martha began her college teaching/coaching career at Roberts Wesleyan College (NY) where she and Bob started Physical Education and Intercollegiate Athletic programs. Bob and Martha moved to Wheaton in 1951 to join the faculty of Wheaton College. While at Wheaton, Martha had a successful career as women's basketball coach, highlighted by her 1968 team that was undefeated and beat a national power University of Iowa team. She went on to serve in the Administration as Assistant Dean of Students. In 1973, Wheaton College named her Alumnus of the Year and she was later inducted into the Wheaton College Sports Hall of Honor.

Martha actively supported Bob as he became President of Sterling College in Kansas and then as President of Taylor University in Indiana.

In 1979, she and Bob authored a book about their special needs son, Ric. For many years she supported special needs students through the West Suburban Recreation Association and College Church in Wheaton. She was a longtime member of College Church and actively participated in a number of programs for those with special needs. Recently, she has been passionate about a new special needs program at Wheaton College.

Bob and Martha moved to Windsor Park Manor in Carol Stream in 2006. He preceded her in death in 2015.

She is survived by three children, Robert (Denise) Baptista Jr. of Elmhurst, Laurel (Jeffrey) Pond of West Chicago and Ric Baptista of West Chicago, four grandchildren: Maria (Wesley) English of Wheaton, Robert Baptista III of Lombard, Betsy (Devin) Freckelton of West Chicago and Sarah Pond of West Chicago, three precious great-grandchildren, Micah and Ginevra English, and Cooper Pond, and close family friend, Bea Gorton.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 27, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at Windsor Park, 124 Windsor Park Drive, in Carol Stream, IL. Private interment was held at Wheaton Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Wheaton College for the Ric Baptista Endowed Fund for Special Needs Programs.

Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.