Martha Ann Thornsburg (1922-1979)

Martha Ann Thornsburg, (1922-1979) Born in 1922. St. Mary’s, Ohio. 

In 1954, “Marty” Thornsburg placed second in the American Amateur Artist contest held in New York. Her charcoal painting of Cathedral Mountain creek traveled around the world as part of the American Amateur Artist exhibit. Mr. Thornsburg jested about Frank Lloyd Wright who placed fourth in the competition. She painted the scrollwork around every window in the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Marfa, Texas. She also repainted the crucifixes of several Churches including St. Mary’s, the Ojinaga Catholic church, and several churches in Mexico. Martha taught art classes on the Presidio highway. She also taught art and health for 10 years at the Valentine and Ft. Davis Elementary schools. Her mediums were charcoal, pastel, oil, and acrylic. Many of her paintings have survived and are kept within the Thornsburg family. She was the first elected President of the Beta Sigma Phi Chapter in Marfa, Texas. Martha was born on October 19, 1922 (St. Mary’s, Ohio) and died on July 27, 1979.