Born in Salisbury, Missouri, US, Martha Barta graduated from Manual High School in Bartonville, Illinois in 1944 and the University of Illinois, Champaign in 1948. A journalism major, Marty later worked for the Pekin Daily Times.
She and her family lived in Geneva, Switzerland for over twenty years while her husband, Gene, worked for Caterpillar Overseas SA.
Marty was instrumental in welcoming newly transferred families to Geneva, helping them find their way through the first few weeks in a strange land and providing important information on sources of American necessities such as spare ribs. She was editor of the American Women's Club newsletter in Geneva.
She was an avid bowler and bridge player, a fabulous cook and gracious hostess.
She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Gene Barta, their children, Bruce and his wife Kathy of Denver, Colorado, John and his wife Lynne of Thornton, Colorado, and Paula Barta and her husband William Roberts of Boston, Massachusetts, three grandchildren, her sister and nieces and nephew.