Apr 30, 2013

Martha G. Sweet, 85, formerly of Washington, died Saturday, April 27, 2013, in Tampa, Fla., where she had lived since 1984.

She was a daughter of the late George Ralph and Inez Gossard.

Mrs. Sweet was the mother of Troy George Breese of Washington and Meredith Artis Anthony of New York City. Also surviving are two stepchildren, David Sweet of Harrisburg and Barbara G. Sweet of Washington, D.C.; and a grandson, Ryan Breese of Washington.

She was an executive with McGraw-Edison, serving as one of the company’s first woman executives.

A longtime championship bridge player, she achieved the rank of life master.

In 1966, she married the Honorable Charles G. Sweet, the president judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Washington County.

In 1984, Judge Sweet retired from the bench, and they moved to Tampa, where they founded Paralegal Careers Inc., a school for paralegals. Mrs. Sweet handled the management and staff issues while her husband served as president and dean.

Together, they traveled the world, spending time in more than 50 countries. They also traveled widely in the United States and visited almost every state.

Mrs. Sweet was featured in the 2008 book “A Place Called Canterbury,” written by her close friend, Dudley Clendinen.

Friends will be received from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday in Piatt and Barnhill Funeral Home, 420 Locust Avenue, Washington.

Memorial contributions may be made to Citizens Library, 55 South College Street, Washington, PA 15301. Condolences may be expressed at www.familyremembers.com.

Piatt and Barnhill Funeral Directors Inc., Charles R. Piatt, owner/supervisor, and Lawrence K. Donovan, funeral director