Martha Jean Distelhurst

1930 - 1973  (43 years)

• Name	Martha Jean Distelhurst  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
  Birth	13 Jun 1930	Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA   [1, 2, 3, 5, 6]
  Gender	Female
  Census	1940	Nashville, Davidson, Tennessee, USA   [2]
  	Marital Status: Single; Relation to Head of House: Daughter
  Death	1 Jul 1973	Arlington, Arlington, Virginia, USA   [1, 5]
  	Cause: Suicide - Strangulation by Hanging
  Burial	Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum, Nashville, Davidson, Tennessee, USA   [1]
  		Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum (also known as Woodlawn Roesch-Patton Memorial Park) Nashville, Davidson, Tennessee Find a Grave: #219110
  Person ID	I26084	A Tree Called Smith
  Last Modified	21 Jul 2025

  
  

  Father	Alfred Edgar Distelhurst, Sr,   b. 14 Oct 1890, Manhattan, New York, New York, USA d. 2 Oct 1972, Arlington County, Virginia, USA (Age 81 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Mother	Ruby Lee Hamilton,   b. 12 Jan 1896, Lauderdale County, Mississippi, USA d. Jan 1985, Hermitage, Davidson, Tennessee, USA (Age 89 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Marriage	Oct 1926  [7, 8, 9]
  Family ID	F4847	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Spofford Jay Beadle,   b. 12 Jun 1928, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA d. 24 May 2013 (Age 84 years)
  Marriage	6 Dec 1952	New York, USA   [1, 4]
  Family ID	F9386	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	21 Jul 2025

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - 13 Jun 1930 - Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA Census - Marital Status: Single; Relation to Head of House: Daughter - 1940 - Nashville, Davidson, Tennessee, USA Marriage - 6 Dec 1952 - New York, USA Death - Cause: Suicide - Strangulation by Hanging - 1 Jul 1973 - Arlington, Arlington, Virginia, USA  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• People

  DISTELHURST-Dorothy and Martha Martha Jean Distelhurst and Dorothy Ann Distelhurst

  
  

• Sources

  [S10407] Find a Grave - US Index, DISTELHURST Martha Beadle 1930-1973. Martha Jane Beadle was born on June 13th, 1930 to Alfred Edgar Distelhurst and Ruby Hamilton. She was the baby sister to Alfred Edgar, Jr. and Dorothy Ann. Martha lost her battle with depression on July 1st, 1973. She was 43 years old. She was survived by her mother, Ruby Hamilton Distelhurst. Martha was predeceased by her father, Edgar (1972); her infant brother (1922); her sister Dorothy (1934); and her brother Alfred Edgar, Jr (1943). https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/157962922/martha_jane_beadle [S9528] Ancestry.com, 1940 United States Federal Census, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2012;), Year: 1940; Census Place: Nashville, Davidson, Tennessee; Roll: T627_3976; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 99-166. 1940 United States Federal Census Year: 1940; Census Place: Nashville, Davidson, Tennessee; Roll: T627_3976; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 99-166 [S160] Ancestry.com, Texas, Birth Index, 1903-1997, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT ; Date: 2005;). Texas, Birth Index, 1903-1997 [S9076] Newspapers.com: Marriage of Martha and Spofford Beadle • Philadelphia Enquirer - 7 Dec 1952, Martha Jean Distelhurst and Spofford Jay Beadle - Publication Date: 7/ Dec/ 1952; Publication Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. https://www.newspapers.com/image/172718504/?article=919dec6a-d8e3-4493-879e-b25f28f07225&focus=0.4942876,0.044639457,0.73757386,0.15492092&xid=3398 [S1415] Ancestry.com, Virginia, Death Records, 1912-2014, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT ; Date: 2015;), Virginia Department of Health; Richmond, Virginia; Virginia Deaths, 1912-2014. Virginia, Death Records, 1912-2014 Virginia Department of Health; Richmond, Virginia; Virginia Deaths, 1912-2014 [S1430] Ancestry.com, Texas, Birth Certificates, 1903-1932, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT ; Date: 2013;). Texas, Birth Certificates, 1903-1932 [S9776] Ancestry.com, 1930 United States Federal Census, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2002;), Year: 1930; Census Place: Dallas, Dallas, Texas; Roll: 2318; Page: 35A; Enumeration District: 0072; Image: 670.0; FHL microfilm: 2342052. 1930 United States Federal Census Year: 1930; Census Place: Dallas, Dallas, Texas; Roll: 2318; Page: 35A; Enumeration District: 0072; Image: 670.0; FHL microfilm: 2342052 [S9057] Newspapers.com: Marriage of Ruby and Alfred Distelhurst • Atlanta Constitution - 26 Sep 1926, Ruby Lee Hamilton and Alfred Edgar Distelhurst Sr - Publication Date: 26/ Sep/ 1926; Publication Place: Atlanta, Georgia. https://www.newspapers.com/image/398071904/?article=b90bd12c-fec9-4169-813e-270e8518aa97&focus=0.48743445,0.30196545,0.726454,0.3298597&xid=3398 [S10784] Find a Grave: HAMILTON Ruby Distelhurst 1896-1985, Ruby Lee Hamilton Distelhurst. Ruby Hamilton was born on January 12, 1896 in Mississippi, to John J. and Charlotte Hamilton. She was the sister to Lonie, John and Virginia. In the late 1920s, Ruby married Alfred Edgar Distelhurst. The two lived in several states, including Georgia and Texas, before settling down in Tennessee. They had two daughters, Dorothy Ann and Martha Jane. Ruby and her family were struck by an incomprehensible tragedy when their eldest daughter Dorothy was abducted while walking home from school. Many efforts were made to recover her alive, including fulfilling a ransom, but Dorothy was found murdered eight weeks after her abduction. Dorothy's story gained national attention, and although there was a spotlight on her case, her killer was never caught. Nine years after Dorothy's death, Ruby's stepson, Alfred Edgar Distelhurst, Jr., was killed in WWII. After Alfred Jr.'s death, Ruby and Ed moved to Virginia, where they lived until both Ed and their adult daughter Martha died within a year of each other. Ruby then moved back to Tennessee, where she died in January of 1985. Ruby was preceded in death by her husband, Ed (1972); daughter, Dorothy (1934); stepson, Alfred (1943); and daughter, Martha (1973). She was buried in Woodlawn Memorial Park with her family. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/157986861/ruby-distelhurst