Loving, caring, and giving would first come to your mind when you hear Carolyn Martin’s name. She loved ministering as God had gifted her and encouraged others not only in their faith, but in life itself. Carolyn never wanted to leave anyone out and enjoyed entertaining others and having fun.

Ruby Carolyn Martin

With the Great Depression finally beginning to ease in 1939, Americans were stimulating the economy. The Hewlett-Packard Co. was created, LaGuardia Airport opened in New York, the first air-conditioned car was shown and Lou Gehrig retired from Major League Baseball after being diagnosed with ALS.

In entertainment the movies “Gone With the Wind” and “The Wizard of Oz” premiered along with “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” With all the events that happened that year, no news was more important to Eugene J. and Gertrude G. (Owens) Holdman than the birth of their third child and first daughter, Ruby Carolyn Holdman, on April 17, 1939, in Leadwood, Mo.

Carolyn grew up on the family farm and attended Leadwood High School where she lettered in volleyball. During the summer of 1956 while working with her family at a church camp store, Carolyn’s life would be forever changed. Jimmy G. Martin was also working at the camp that summer, and the two would fall in love. Following her graduation in 1957, the two were married on Dec. 28, 1957.

The couple was blessed to welcome a daughter, Susan, and two sons, Mark and Stephen, into their hearts and homes. Unfortunately, their sons passed before Jim and Carolyn, but her faith in God helped her along the way.

Carolyn always had a desire to minister to others and wanted to be a pastor’s wife. She knew the responsibility of that and looked forward to it. Over the years, she had been a secretary, director of small groups and worked in day cares with many associated churches.

She was a faithful member of Columbia City First Church of God where she touched many lives and served as director of small group ministries and as part of the leadership team and helped to organize Women in Connection. She was a co-leader with her husband of many small groups and organized, led and mentored new leaders for women’s Bible studies and leaders of small groups. Carolyn held various positions in the Churches of God General Conference, including being a member of the Commission on Missions and serving as president and in other positions in National Women’s Ministries.

Carolyn was a co-director of women’s and pastors’ wives retreats and co-editor of a newsletter for pastors’ wives/women in ministry. Carolyn even helped pass on her knowledge, experience and love of what she did by authoring three Bible study books for women’s ministries.

Carolyn loved her family and having people over to her home. She was a great cook and found cooking as a way to relax, especially if something was on her mind. She would read recipe books and try out new recipes for her family and friends.

A year after the passing of her beloved husband, Ruby Carolyn Martin drew her final breath and ran into the arms of Jesus as her daughter, son-in-law and pastor prayed over her. At the age of 81, Carolyn passed away Thursday afternoon, April 1, 2021, at Miller’s at Oak Pointe in Columbia City.

She is survived by her daughter, Susan (Terry) Fenker; daughter-in-law Kathleen Martin; grandchildren Melissa (Matthew) Geiger, Ashlee (Andrew) Cook, Seth (Mary-jean) Martin, Brianna (Emanuell) Hernandez, Jessica Martin, Jacqueline (Michael) Barresi, Jessica (Zak Young) Lindner and Katie Lindner; and great-grandchildren Maddie, Makena, Audrey, Aleena, Asher, Quincy, Ynez, Elissa, Lilianna, Amy, Brielle, Brody and Bennett; sisters Beverly Neidig and Bonnie Bradley; brother Travis (Becky) Holdman; sisters-in-law Erma Holdman, Ruth Ellen Holdman and Janet Holdman; and daughters-in-law Jenny Martin and Kim (Nick) Farr.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Pastor Jim Martin on March 31, 2020; two sons Mark David Martin and Stephen Glen Martin; and brothers Donald Holdman, Larry Holdman, James Holdman and Darrel Holdman.

Visitation will be 3-7 p.m. Tuesday, April 6, at DeMoney-Grimes Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 7, at First Church of God, 1200 W. Depoy Drive, Columbia City, with visitation one hour prior. Her service may also be watched live on Facebook through DeMoney Grimes Live. Burial will take place at Oak Grove (Compton) Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be given in her memory to Columbia City First Church of God. Visit www.demoneygrimes.com to send her family online condolences or sign the guest book.