Martina Watkins

Watkins, Martina
Martina Watkins was born February, 4, 1913 in South Gifford, MO to Samuel J and Ethel M Hopper, and was delivered by her grandfather, Dr. Nathanial L. Johnson. She weighed less than 2 lbs and was warmed in a shoebox on the oven door. Growing up, Martina milked cows, raised sheep, played center (at 4'11") on her high school's championship basketball team and graduated valedictorian at Glenwood High School. Martina also graduated from Missouri State Teacher's College, taught school in a one room schoolhouse, farmed in Missouri, and helped Otto, her husband, build their home in Ottumwa, IA. In Phoenix, she sold children's shoes and real estate, painted, grew hydroponic vegetables, made numerous crafts, and cheered for the Phoenix Suns. In her 90's she was a deacon at Morningside Presbyterian Church, volunteered at Interfaith Cooperative Ministries, mopped floors and weeded gardens for the elderly, and received the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Ageless Hero Award for Community Involvement in 2006. Martina played a mean game of Bridge, won most games of Aggravation and lovingly and continually influenced her daughter Karen Rhinehart, son-in-law Norman, grandchildren and their spouses, Camille and Dan Brougher, Cathy and Ken Worthem and Christopher Rhinehart, and great grandchildren Jeremy and Adia Brougher, Justin Rhinehart, Emma, Eleanor and Evelyn Worthem. Martina Watkins died peacefully on May 18, 2011 at the age of 98 in Phoenix, AZ. She was preceded in death by her husband, Otto, brother, Nelson Hopper, and sisters Beryl Hopper and Ruth McGoldrick. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent in Martina's name to ICM Food & Clothing Bank, P.O. Box 2225, Phoenix, AZ 85002. A memorial service will be held June 1, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at Mountain View Christian Church, 2927 East Campbell, Phoenix, AZ.
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