Martha Gloria Ruiz

Born June 7, 1938 in Chapman Ranch outside Corpus Christi, she was the oldest child of Pantaleon and Lucila (Salinas) Hernandez and was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband Julian M. Ruiz, Jr. Martha is survived by her children Miguel Ruiz (Cheryl), Mario Ruiz, and Celina Ruiz-Snowden (Michael), grandchildren Keith Carpenter, Emily Carpenter, Adam Ruiz, Emma Snowden and Jazmin Snowden; siblings Jesus Hernandez (Janie), Maricela Perez (Roland), Myrna Rodriguez (Rosendo), Orfelinda Hernandez, Blanca Konitzer, and John Rodriguez (Becky); and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She was especially close to her cousin, Dora Gonzales (Maldonado) – a friendship of almost daily contact that would continue until her passing.

Martha enjoyed school, especially mathematics, during her early school years at nearby London Elementary and Junior High School along with playing basketball and catcher during baseball games with her schoolmates, friends and cousins.

A proud Class of 1956 Fighting Texan graduate of W. B. Ray High School; Martha attended Del Mar College and worked for National Life Insurance. She enjoyed teaching Catechism to the children of the Chapman Ranch and King Ranch workers. Martha met Julian M. Ruiz, Jr. and married him in Corpus Christi on September 7, 1966 and then lived in Sinton where he was City Councilmember and Mayor Pro Tempore. Two sons, Miguel and Mario, soon filled their lives in 1968. She truly enjoyed dancing with Julian throughout their lives together.

Employed as an Administrative Officer for the U. S. Small Business Administration - Corpus Christi Branch Office, Martha provided much-needed bilingual translation assistance for Hurricane Celia disaster relief efforts. When Julian, now working as a loan officer for SBA Disaster, accepted a transfer to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for flood disaster relief efforts, Martha resigned her SBA appointment and home-schooled her boys; teaching came naturally to her and the boys would often cite this early head start as a catalyst for their later academic success. Another flood disaster relief transfer prompted a move to Detroit, Michigan where a daughter, Celina, blessed the family in 1973.

Needing a return home, they settled in Live Oak Village, a northeast suburb of San Antonio. Joining the Catholic community of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Selma, Martha and Julian would serve as Eucharistic Ministers and RCIA sponsors, and helped establish the OLPH Guadalupana Society. She took delight in coordinating the annual Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe celebratory mass – especially the costumed, dancing children (matechines) in the service.

Martha mentored and tutored the children of Boysville Texas and worked as a Special Education educator for Judson ISD until her retirement in 2003, when her beloved Julian passed away. Her time in Live Oak has seen all three children grow up, graduate from Judson High School and The University of Texas at Austin, and finally, start their own lives. Martha and Julian became familiar fixtures at Judson Rocket football games for years long after their last child had graduated, often sharing the experience as a reward to Boysville children for doing well in school. She was an avid sports fan and loved to cheer on her San Antonio Spurs and made sure everyone knew that WE BELIEVE in ROCKET PRIDE!

She was often hurrying from one family member or friend to another, then to OLPH for something, and back to visit yet another family member or friend. No matter…Martha’s life was a love story of family, friends and faith – and our lives are richer for her devotion.

Visitation will be Sunday, June 1, 2014 from 2:00 P.M. until 5:30 P.M. at Colonial Funeral Home. A Rosary will be recited Sunday, June 1, 2014 at 7:00 P.M. And Mass will be celebrated Monday, June 2, 2014 at 10:00 A.M. The Rosary and Mass will both be at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Selma. Interment will follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at 1:30 P.M.

The family wishes to thank everyone for their love and support. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The University of Texas Neighborhood Longhorns Program (www.neighborhoodlonghorns.org).