Martha Young Gibson

Martha Young Gibson passed away peacefully on February 17th, 2023, surrounded by love and family in Fremont, California. She was the youngest child of Minnie and Jesse Young, born in Delmar, Maryland, on February 1st, 1928, a kid sister to Tommy and Ruth.

"Trudy," in her school days, spent her time perfecting her creative writing skills, developing a love of cinema, and gracing school events with her enchanting singing voice. She even sang professionally with the Corky Kling Big Band for a time, until Minnie said "no" to the prospect of a teenager making a trip to perform in New York City.

During one teenage adventure to the roller rink, Trudy met a young sailor. The two soon married, and had three children, Cathy, Christine and Alfie. As a Navy wife, and often single parent, Trudy dreamed of returning to school to study poetry and literature. Realizing her dream, "Marta" enrolled in college, eventually earning her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in English at the University of New Orleans. At this time, she was also an avid and tireless activist, helping to change the Military Spouse Pension Law.

Marta wrote beautiful poetry and prose, and she shared her love for writing as a tutor and teacher, aiding young writers with her tutoring style noted for its praise and encouragement.

She was blessed with four grandchildren, Jennifer, Jesse, Simone, and Alex, for whom "Gram" was an unending source of love and support. In addition to her children and grandchildren, she is survived by her sister-in-law, Diana Young; nieces, Susan, Margot, and Nancy; nephew, Tommy, and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Ruth, her brother, Thomas, her half-sister, Agnes, and her half-brother, Jesse.

In her later years, "Miss Martha" brought joy and cheer to her fellow residents at her care facility, by visiting room after room singing duets with her daughter-in-law, Sylvia. Her family is immensely grateful to the staff at Emmanuel Care Center for their loving care.

Martha Young Gibson, you are loved and you will be missed. We will cherish our memories of you and keep you in our hearts, "always and forever".

A Celebration of Life is being planned for a later date at Santa Cruz Memorial, in Santa Cruz, California.