Virginia Ruth Gilliam Martin

Virginia Ruth Gilliam Martin 1927 ~ 2007 Virginia Ruth Gilliam Martin was a truly remarkable woman endowed with limitless capabilities. She was born March 9, 1927, in Jersey City, New Jersey, to Marion Knight Gilliam and Frances Ruth Bower. She married Lloyd Frances Martin, May 4, 1946, who considered himself the luckiest man on earth. Gini held children captive with the magic of her words. She won their hearts in an instant and they gravitated to her as if she were one of them. She used the simple things of the world to create wonder and hope in their hearts, adventure in their days, and faith in their tomorrows. Scraps of fabric became named playthings yarn became weavings, plaster turned to face masks (yes, almost permanently), walls became good 'n plenty displays, pictures became the faces of storage boxes, tiles turned to hopscotch arenas, blankets built multi-room forts, and popsicle sticks turned into pens as she outlined the plan of salvation in the ocean sands. Her six children, and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends, were fortunate to experience the joy of such a ride and to learn from her life's example. Gini could do anything. She was a talented reporter and dancer in her younger years. She was an accomplished painter and sculptor, typically fashioning elaborate pieces out of mundane materials. With no formal training until she was in her fifties, she brought a unique perspective and style with her to her art classes. Whatever space she occupied or materials she had at hand, Gini was sure to work them into something aesthetically profound. Even outdoors she worked wonders, surviving an entire summer with her family in the woods of northern Minnesota, after the bears ate the food the first week. Gini had an insatiable thirst for knowledge. She could quote poems extensively and recite the words to countless songs. She was heard singing "The Good Ship Lollipop" with her daughter-in-law, Siuna, during the last day of her life. As her eyesight deteriorated she spent hours listening to recorded lectures and foreign language lessons. The knowledge she acquired, coupled with an amazing wit, made her a most engaging conversationalist. She especially loved discussing and studying matters related to her faith. She was a devout follower of Jesus Christ, exemplified the Golden Rule, and relied on her fervent belief in Christ's goodness to help her endure numerous chronic ailments and many other challenges. Her husband dubbed her "Corky," depicting her buoyancy on the waves of life. One of Gini's sterling qualities was her generosity. She shared all that she had time, talents, means, creativity, ideas, humor, and all that she was and was becoming. She truly loved her neighbor as herself, and would always go the extra mile. Indeed, the front, back and side doors of her home were absolutely always open. Gini's family was her greatest treasure. She and her husband, Lloyd, enjoyed nearly 50 years of marriage together. Converts to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they were sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple in 1962, and are now finally reunited. She is survived by her children Cathleen Frome (Robert); Ruth Ann; Richard (Tonya); Robert (Siuna); and Nathan (Leul) Martin, and many beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband and by her son, Ellis Gilliam Martin (Sherrie). Gini left us on November 18, 2007. She is set free from the severe limits imposed by her body. She is gone, but the incalculable impact on our lives remains. We express our gratitude to the hospice doctors, nurses, social workers and aides who made it possible for her to stay home with her family, and to her bishop who nurtured her soul. Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 23rd at 11:00 a.m. at the Salt Lake 21st Ward, 2nd Avenue and K Street, Salt Lake City, Utah. Friends are welcome to a viewing to be held one hour prior to the service. A private interment ceremony will take place in Marion, UT.