Ruth B Martina

Ruth Beth Martina was born October 31, 1938 in Reno, Nevada as the fourth child and second daughter to Clarence (C.Q.) and Amy Johnson. Her first years were spent in Reno and since October 31st was statehood day as well as being Halloween, the family would enjoy the trip to Carson City to watch the parade.
In 1947 the family moved to Herlong, California to the Sierra Ordnance Depot where Ruth's father was the fiscal officer. At this time Ruth was in the fourth grade and continued with her school until her high school graduation in 1955.
She met a handsome young man in the Air Force, and married Rex Crider Bond of Cordell, OK in July of 1955 at the Methodist Church in Reno. The wedding was the social event of the year. In the fall she attended Lassen Jr. College, (where she was elected homecoming queen) until she and Rex moved to Reno.
In 1957 Ruth and Rex moved to Oklahoma where son Keith was born and four years later daughter Ellen arrived. They lived in Oklahoma until the family moved to Arkansas where Ruth returned to college and started the long road toward her degree in Education. While living in Clarksville, Ruth went to work for the Special Learning Center at the College of the Ozark's Program for Dyslexic College Students. She worked here from 1973-1975 and found her work very rewarding.
Ruth and her children later moved to Sacramento, California where she continued working on her degree and finally received her B.A. Her first teaching job was in Greenville, CA and then then transferred to the Menifee School district and moved to Sun City, CA. Ruth loved her students at Menifee and was the first teacher in the school to take her students on backpacking trips. During the time she was teaching at Menifee she completed her Masters Degree as a Reading Specialist from UC Riverside in 1988. While she was living in Sun City she married Joseph Martina, of Shreveport, LA in 1986.
After the birth of her first granddaughter in 1997, Ruth made the move back to Oklahoma to be close to her family. She purchased a 100-year-old farmhouse and completely renovated it into the cozy, welcoming home she resided in until her death. She was the third grade teacher at Western Oklahoma Christian School from 1999 to 2003.
There is no question that the delight of her life was her family. Her daughter Ellen, granddaughters Amy and Annie and son Keith were her biggest joys and she loved sharing her deep rooted faith in Jesus Christ with everyone she encountered.
Ruth was an incredibly, kind, gentle and compassionate person. She lived, talked and walked her sincere faith in God. Ruth was an active member of First Baptist Church, Cordell where she was involved in Vacation Bible School, Nursery Service, Prayer Team, Missions, AWANA and Ladies Bible Study. She served in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina with the Southern Baptist Response Team. Also in February of 2015 she completed one of her lifelong goals of serving on an overseas mission trip as she went to Peru with a team from FBC Cordell.
Ruth was also a passionate American, and was always very informed on all current political issues and was proactive in contacting her legislators about issues she was passionate about. Ruth was a tireless advocate for the Pro-Life movement and relished attending the annual Rose Day at the Oklahoma State Capitol. She taught American History and Government for the Western Oklahoma Homeschool Group and served as a delegate from Washita County to the Oklahoma Republican Convention.
Ruth loved the outdoors and spent many hours in her garden and taking long walks. She loved to camp and backpack and was able to cross climbing Mt. Whitney in California off her bucket list when she reached the top with her son-in-law, Curt in 1995. She also completed parts of the Ozark Highlands Backpacking Trail with her family.
She was proceeded in death by her parents, brothers Roger Quimby Johnson and Donald Edward Johnson.
She is survived by her sisters Amy Gay Edwards of San Jacinto, CA, Doris Polacek and husband Mike of Fort Bragg, CA. Her sister in law Joanne (Skip) Johnson, Chico, CA. Son Keith Bond of Cordell, OK. Daughter Ellen Vanderveer and husband Curt of Cordell Oklahoma and granddaughters Amy and Annie Vanderveer. Numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and great-grand nieces and nephews as well as a host of other family and friends.
Funeral services for Ruth will be held at First Baptist Church Cordell on Monday, December 21, 2015 with internment to follow at Strickland Cemetery south of Cordell.
Donations in Ruth's name can be made to either of the following organizations she was passionate about; Heart to Heart Pregnancy Care Center P.O. Box 2122 Elk City, OK 73648 or American Family Radio P.O. Drawer 2440 Tupelo, MS 38803