Ruth Martin

Ruth Martin was born Ruth Freeman, daughter of L.L. and Winnie Freeman at home in Vinson, Oklahoma on April 1, 1927. One of seven children and the daughter of a preacher, she spent her childhood in many different places across the country, spending her summers with her siblings in the fields and orchards picking vegetables and fruits. She joined her family in singing songs on a gospel program and loved the acapella hymns she sang in church throughout her life. Ruth married Gene Martin in Salem, Oregon while she was still a senior in high school, as he was called to serve in Italy in World War II. Ruth was a homemaker who was accomplished in cooking, sewing, crocheting, and gardening. She bore three children, Janice, Steven, and Karen. She sewed most of Janice’s and Karen’s clothes and baked and decorated both their wedding cakes, along with decorating cakes for family and friends’ special occasions. She made sure the family cookie jar was never empty of fresh baked cookies - and made sure she baked every family member’s favorite pie at Thanksgiving and a Christmas. She loved to decorate for the holidays. She grew and canned fruits and vegetables. An afghan she lovingly crocheted took first place at the California State Fair. She was involved in church activities, including teaching Sunday school, Vacation Bible school, and ladies classes, and she never missed a service unless she was too ill to attend. She and Gene always welcomed visitors from church to their home for Sunday dinners and hosted regular social gatherings of food and games for the members - filling their home with joy and laughter. When her son Steven was terminally ill, she and Gene tended to him in their home through his final months, with love, tenderness and compassion. After Gene passed, Ruth relocated to Castle Rock, Colorado, near Janice and her family, and eventually lived with Janice and her husband Larry, until she went to live at Castle Rock Assisted Living. Janice’s daughter Kelly, along with her family (husband Roger, and their children Jared and Riley), lived close by in Castle Rock, and Janice’s son Chris lived in Denver, so family was always near and present to help watch over her care. Janice, her husband Larry, and Karen were with Ruth when she passed on July 28, 2018, the end of her struggle with Alzheimer’s and other physical challenges. Ruth truly lived her 91 years. Never one to sit still, her focus was on her spiritual life and doing for others and she was happiest when busy and creating things for the joy of others