Martha Dakin Bush

Martha Dakin Bush, (Marty) age 105, of Dayton, Ohio, passed away June 20, 2026. Marty was born August 25, 1920, to Karl and Ruth Dakin of Lebanon, Ohio. She was preceded in death by her husband of 76 years, Dr Alden J Bush, Jr. She is survived by her daughters Susan Kelly and Kay Taylor, her grandchildren Stephanie Dunkle and Benjamin Taylor, and by her two great granddaughters, Taylor and Elise Dunkle.

Marty was fortunate to have a father who didn’t think golf was a sport for men only. He nurtured her interest and by high school, she was the only woman on the Lebanon High School boy’s team. She proudly represented Miami University in the inaugural inter-collegiate women’s golf tournament at OSU in 1941, and she graduated from Miami the following year. Her love of golf spanned her entire life. She has won the Dayton City Tournament and multiple club championships at Moraine Country Club where she was a member for over 60 years. In 2000, she was honored at Miami for being the first woman to have competed against other colleges in any sport. The women of Moraine CC have honored her at a tournament in her name for the past twenty years, in which she participated until she was 88 years old.

Marty and A.J. loved to travel and made many trips to places all over the world, but one of their favorite places was a ranch in Wyoming. They visited the ranch close to twenty times and were still riding horses in the Badlands into their 70s. They also formed lifelong bonds with students they hosted through The Experiment in International Living.

Always respectful, caring, and genuine, Marty was an inspiration to many from her family to anyone who had the privilege to know her during her long life. She became a beloved resident at Bethany Village. She made it a point to truly get to know all those who helped her along the way and she cherished them as friends. Thank you to all those at Bethany and to Ohio Living Bethany Hospice who enriched her life.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Breast Wishes at breastwishes.org or to Ohio Living Bethany Hospice.

A visitation will be held at David’s Cemetery chapel Friday June 26 from 10-11 a.m. followed by a private family graveside service.