Norma Martin's life changed forever when she caught the eye of a young Arthur Roberts. She was the prettiest girl he had ever seen, and he flirted with her at the malt shop where she worked, working up the nerve to ask for her phone number, which she refused to give. Fortunately for the smitten boy, Norma's co-worker slipped it to him on the sly. This is how matches were made in the age before dating apps.
Norma was born in Virginia, Minnesota on June 29th, 1935 to Agnes and Roland Martin. She grew up with twin siblings Stan and Merilee. The family moved to Spokane, Washington for a fresh start and Norma's destiny was set in motion.
She and Arthur married young, but this was no doomed romance. Marrying in 1952, the pair would be together for an impressive 69 years! They didn't know what the future held for them when they started a family, beginning with a daughter, Debbie, followed by another girl, Sue, and finally a son: Jim. The family were building their American dream against the backdrop of the Beatles invasion, President Kennedy's assassination and Neil Armstrong walking on the moon! The latter happened in 1969 and was the biggest news everywhere except the Roberts' household, where they--surprise--welcomed their 4th and final child, son Dan, 12 years after the last baby was born.
Norma was a department manager for Newberry's at the U-City Mall in the Spokane Valley, where she met a core group of friends that stayed in touch long after the one-time retail giant had closed. She was one of the kindest people they'd ever met.
Norma's heart was as big as her faith. She was very involved in her church, Redeemer Lutheran, volunteering at the Union Gospel Mission, spreading the good word to women with substance abuse issues and assembling braille books for the blind. She looked forward to candlelight services on Christmas Eve and gave generously to the offering plate every Sunday.
Norma took her widowed mother to those services, hosted her for Sunday dinner weekly and when Alzheimer's disease afflicted the elderly matriarch, Norma and Art moved her into their home.
Alzheimer's is the villain of this story. Its memory-stealing and debilitating cruelness haunted Norma. It was her worst fear. Tragically, it would take her life on November 1st, 2021.
She is survived by her kids, 6 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren and her husband of 69 years, who is as in love with the girl from the malt shop as he was when she first caught his eye a lifetime ago. In the end, she squeezed his hand one last time; love breaking through the fog of Alzheimer's.
Viewing is Monday, November 8th, 1 to 3pm at Thornhill Valley Chapel, 1400 S Pines Rd. Funeral is Tuesday, November 9th, 1pm sharp at Washington State Veterans Cemetery, 21702 W Espanola Rd in Medical Lake.
Published by Spokesman-Review on Nov. 7, 2021.
Norma was born in Virginia, Minnesota on June 29th, 1935 to Agnes and Roland Martin. She grew up with twin siblings Stan and Merilee. The family moved to Spokane, Washington for a fresh start and Norma's destiny was set in motion.
She and Arthur married young, but this was no doomed romance. Marrying in 1952, the pair would be together for an impressive 69 years! They didn't know what the future held for them when they started a family, beginning with a daughter, Debbie, followed by another girl, Sue, and finally a son: Jim. The family were building their American dream against the backdrop of the Beatles invasion, President Kennedy's assassination and Neil Armstrong walking on the moon! The latter happened in 1969 and was the biggest news everywhere except the Roberts' household, where they--surprise--welcomed their 4th and final child, son Dan, 12 years after the last baby was born.
Norma was a department manager for Newberry's at the U-City Mall in the Spokane Valley, where she met a core group of friends that stayed in touch long after the one-time retail giant had closed. She was one of the kindest people they'd ever met.
Norma's heart was as big as her faith. She was very involved in her church, Redeemer Lutheran, volunteering at the Union Gospel Mission, spreading the good word to women with substance abuse issues and assembling braille books for the blind. She looked forward to candlelight services on Christmas Eve and gave generously to the offering plate every Sunday.
Norma took her widowed mother to those services, hosted her for Sunday dinner weekly and when Alzheimer's disease afflicted the elderly matriarch, Norma and Art moved her into their home.
Alzheimer's is the villain of this story. Its memory-stealing and debilitating cruelness haunted Norma. It was her worst fear. Tragically, it would take her life on November 1st, 2021.
She is survived by her kids, 6 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren and her husband of 69 years, who is as in love with the girl from the malt shop as he was when she first caught his eye a lifetime ago. In the end, she squeezed his hand one last time; love breaking through the fog of Alzheimer's.
Viewing is Monday, November 8th, 1 to 3pm at Thornhill Valley Chapel, 1400 S Pines Rd. Funeral is Tuesday, November 9th, 1pm sharp at Washington State Veterans Cemetery, 21702 W Espanola Rd in Medical Lake.
Published by Spokesman-Review on Nov. 7, 2021.
Norma Martin's life changed forever when she caught the eye of a young Arthur Roberts. She was the prettiest girl he had ever seen, and he flirted with her at the malt shop where she worked, working up the nerve to ask for her phone number, which she refused to give. Fortunately for the smitten boy, Norma's co-worker slipped it to him on the sly. This is how matches were made in the age before dating apps.
Norma was born in Virginia, Minnesota on June 29th, 1935 to Agnes and Roland Martin. She grew up with twin siblings Stan and Merilee. The family moved to Spokane, Washington for a fresh start and Norma's destiny was set in motion.
She and Arthur married young, but this was no doomed romance. Marrying in 1952, the pair would be together for an impressive 69 years! They didn't know what the future held for them when they started a family, beginning with a daughter, Debbie, followed by another girl, Sue, and finally a son: Jim. The family were building their American dream against the backdrop of the Beatles invasion, President Kennedy's assassination and Neil Armstrong walking on the moon! The latter happened in 1969 and was the biggest news everywhere except the Roberts' household, where they--surprise--welcomed their 4th and final child, son Dan, 12 years after the last baby was born.
Norma was a department manager for Newberry's at the U-City Mall in the Spokane Valley, where she met a core group of friends that stayed in touch long after the one-time retail giant had closed. She was one of the kindest people they'd ever met.
Norma's heart was as big as her faith. She was very involved in her church, Redeemer Lutheran, volunteering at the Union Gospel Mission, spreading the good word to women with substance abuse issues and assembling braille books for the blind. She looked forward to candlelight services on Christmas Eve and gave generously to the offering plate every Sunday.
Norma took her widowed mother to those services, hosted her for Sunday dinner weekly and when Alzheimer's disease afflicted the elderly matriarch, Norma and Art moved her into their home.
Alzheimer's is the villain of this story. Its memory-stealing and debilitating cruelness haunted Norma. It was her worst fear. Tragically, it would take her life on November 1st, 2021.
She is survived by her kids, 6 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren and her husband of 69 years, who is as in love with the girl from the malt shop as he was when she first caught his eye a lifetime ago. In the end, she squeezed his hand one last time; love breaking through the fog of Alzheimer's.
Viewing is Monday, November 8th, 1 to 3pm at Thornhill Valley Chapel, 1400 S Pines Rd. Funeral is Tuesday, November 9th, 1pm sharp at Washington State Veterans Cemetery, 21702 W Espanola Rd in Medical Lake.
Published by Spokesman-Review on Nov. 7, 2021.
Norma was born in Virginia, Minnesota on June 29th, 1935 to Agnes and Roland Martin. She grew up with twin siblings Stan and Merilee. The family moved to Spokane, Washington for a fresh start and Norma's destiny was set in motion.
She and Arthur married young, but this was no doomed romance. Marrying in 1952, the pair would be together for an impressive 69 years! They didn't know what the future held for them when they started a family, beginning with a daughter, Debbie, followed by another girl, Sue, and finally a son: Jim. The family were building their American dream against the backdrop of the Beatles invasion, President Kennedy's assassination and Neil Armstrong walking on the moon! The latter happened in 1969 and was the biggest news everywhere except the Roberts' household, where they--surprise--welcomed their 4th and final child, son Dan, 12 years after the last baby was born.
Norma was a department manager for Newberry's at the U-City Mall in the Spokane Valley, where she met a core group of friends that stayed in touch long after the one-time retail giant had closed. She was one of the kindest people they'd ever met.
Norma's heart was as big as her faith. She was very involved in her church, Redeemer Lutheran, volunteering at the Union Gospel Mission, spreading the good word to women with substance abuse issues and assembling braille books for the blind. She looked forward to candlelight services on Christmas Eve and gave generously to the offering plate every Sunday.
Norma took her widowed mother to those services, hosted her for Sunday dinner weekly and when Alzheimer's disease afflicted the elderly matriarch, Norma and Art moved her into their home.
Alzheimer's is the villain of this story. Its memory-stealing and debilitating cruelness haunted Norma. It was her worst fear. Tragically, it would take her life on November 1st, 2021.
She is survived by her kids, 6 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren and her husband of 69 years, who is as in love with the girl from the malt shop as he was when she first caught his eye a lifetime ago. In the end, she squeezed his hand one last time; love breaking through the fog of Alzheimer's.
Viewing is Monday, November 8th, 1 to 3pm at Thornhill Valley Chapel, 1400 S Pines Rd. Funeral is Tuesday, November 9th, 1pm sharp at Washington State Veterans Cemetery, 21702 W Espanola Rd in Medical Lake.
Published by Spokesman-Review on Nov. 7, 2021.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
