Martin Funeral Home

Anderson, Delores Adell, 92, Fresno, May 19, Chapel of the Light Funeral Home Artphasook, Ulai, 62, Fresno, May 23, Chapel of the Light Funeral Home Bartels, Franklin, 96, Tulare, May 27, Peers-Lorentzen Funeral Service Bellamy Sr., Lee Andrew, 52, Porterville, May 1, Myers Funeral Service & Crematory Borden, Norman Clyde, 86, Tulare, May 26, Peers-Lorentzen Funeral Service Boriack, Randolph Paul, 65, Tulare, May 26, Peers-Lorentzen Funeral Service Bosch, Grace, 94, Visalia, May 28, Peers-Lorentzen Funeral Service Briggs, David F., 61, Springville, May 23, Myers Funeral Service & Crematory Cavazos, Jose Luz, 88, Sanger, May 24, Wallin’s Sanger Funeral Home Ceballos, Ramon Andrade, 59, Porterville, May 23, Myers Funeral Service & Crematory Colin Banderas, Manuel, 74, Hanford, May 20, Chapel of the Light Funeral Home Davis, Do...

Martin) Smith, age 95, of Ogdensburg, NY, will be held on Wednesday, May 29, 2019, at 12:00PM at St. Mary’s Cathedral with Rev. Justin Thomas officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery. Calling hours will be held from 10:00AM to 11:30AM on Wednesday, May 29, 2019, at Frary Funeral Home, Ogdensburg. Mrs. Smith passed away on Saturday, May 25, 2019, at St. Joseph’s Nursing Home. Rita is survived by her two sons, Paul and his wife, Marlene, and Bob and his wife, Debra Lee, both of Ogdensburg; six grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; and one sister, Sister Helen Martin. She is predeceased by two daughters, Catherine Burke and Sister Nancy Elizabeth Smith; her two sisters, Anna and Pauline; and one brother, Edgar. Rita was born on June 27, 1923, in Ogdensburg, NY, the daughter of Anne Hoagland Martin. She graduated from St. Mary’s Academy in 1941 and later earned her Nursing Degree from St. Lawrence State Hospital School of Nursing in 1945. Rita first went to work for Hepburn Hospital before having children. She later worked for Cedar’s Home as a registered nurse. On October 6, 1948, Rita married James R. Smith at St. Mary’s Cathedral with Rev. Clarence Devan officiating. He predeceased her on January 11, 1991.She enjoyed spending time with family and friends, was member of the Claxton Hepburn Women’s Auxiliary, and St. Vincent de Paul Society.In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Rita’s memory to the St. Joseph’s Foundation, 950 Linden St., Ogdensburg, NY 13669 or to a charity of one’s choice. Online condolences may be made at www.fraryfuneralhome.com.

Saturday, May 25, 2019 at Wesley Village Healthcare Center in Macomb.Ruth was born in Wahpeton, North Dakota on December 29, 1918, to Edward Theodore (E.T.) and Jane (Jennie) Grigsby Martin, but lived most of her life on the family farm near Blandinsville, Illinois. She began her teaching career at age 19 at Starr Commonwealth, a private school for boys in Albion, Michigan, and then returned to Illinois Wesleyan University to complete her degree in 1942. She later received her Masters degree from Western Illinois University.During World War II, Ruth worked for the U.S. Army Special Services Department as Assistant Director of social activities on army bases. This is how she met her future husband, Ken, who was serving with the military police at Camp Atterbury in Indiana. After the military years, they returned to Blandinsville where Ken began farming and Ruth started her teaching career, first in Blandinsvlle and El Paso, Illinois, and eventually, as the choral director for Macomb High School for 24 years.After retiring from teaching in 1981, Ruth began a second, 25-year career as director of the Spoon River Singing Seniors, a popular group that performed all over the region. Even after her second retirement, Ruth always kept busier than most people, and as she said, could never pass a piano without stopping to play it. In her recent years, first at Grand Prairie, and more recently at Wesley Village, she loved to lead the sing-alongs, always trying to make everyone’s day brighter. During much of her life, she also served as organist for her home church, the First Baptist Church of Blandinsville, a position she held for 57 years.Ruth received many honors and awards over the years: In 1993 she was admitted to the Gallery of Ageless Achievers by the WIU Area on Aging. In 1994 and 2016, she was one of the Grand Marshalls for Macomb Heritage Days Parade.In 1998, she was named one of the area’s "Living Treasures" by WGEM TV.In 2004 she was recognized by the collegiate Music Educators National Conference for outstanding contribution to music in our schools.In 2006 she ...