Ruth Stewart Martin

November 17, 1931 - June 20, 2013
Ruth Stewart Martin, 81, passed peacefully in her home surrounded by family on June 20, 2013. She was a fourth-generation Californian as her great-grandfather, Lyman Stewart, moved west and was the founder of Union Oil, and co-founder of Biola University. She leaves behind a large family including three children; Leslie Martin Thompson, W. Lawson Martin III, Laura Stewart Martin Stone and their spouses, fourteen grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren, her sister Barbara Jameson, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. Ruth was raised in Pasadena where she attended Polytechnic school. Her high school years were spent at the Master's School in Dobbs Ferry, New York. She then attended Pomona College in Claremont, CA, lived in San Francisco several years with friends, then moved back to Pasadena where she married William L. Martin II in 1953. She lived in San Marino for most of her adult life and was active in many community groups and volunteer endeavors including Friends of the Library and Reading for the Blind. She was also an award-winning actress in various community theater groups including the San Gabriel Community Theater and the Nine O'clock Players. In her later years she enjoyed spending time with family, working with computers, gardening, reading, and meeting monthly with a group of her community theater friends aptly calling themselves "The Incredibles".
An open memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday June 27 at San Marino Community Church.