Ruth Martin

Ruth Louise Borens Martin, 64, of Austin, TX joined her parents in heaven on October 7, 2025. A funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at 10 AM at St. Paul Catholic Church 10000 Robert Moore Drive in Austin.

Ruth was born on July 11, 1961 in Hewitt, WI, the fifth of seven children born to John Richard and Louise Ann Borens. Her family moved to both Marshfield and Wausau, WI, before migrating to Texas, briefly to Waco, then permanently to Longview. Ruth attended Catholic schools through eighth grade before advancing to Pine Tree Jr. High and High Schools in Longview. She attended nearby Kilgore Jr. College for one and half years before transferring to Texas A&M University, graduating Summa Cum Laude with her Bachelor of Science degree in Curriculum and Instruction in May 1983. She was a stellar student, graduating as high school Salutatorian in 1979, and Summa Cum Laude from Texas A&M in 1983. Ruth was athletic, and like her three brothers, she excelled in basketball. In high school, she played Varsity and was honored as an All-District player. In college, she played intramural sports and in later years, participated in adult softball leagues.

While at Texas A&M, Ruth met her husband, Kenneth Wayne Martin. They were married on November 26, 1983 and after living for a year in College Station, Texas, moved to Austin, Texas. Their family expanded to include two daughters and one son: Sarah, Kyle and Marissa.

A dedicated and beloved educator, Ruth taught in the Bryan, Texas school district and taught Driver’s Education before moving to Austin. Once in Austin, she taught at both Hillcrest Elementary and Smith Elementary in the Del Valle, Texas school system. She taught both fourth and sixth graders and was Grade Level Leader at Smith Elementary for several years. When teaching sixth grade, she helped organize and lead student campouts and lock-ins. Ruth was named Smith Elementary Teacher of the Year for the 2007-2008 school year. Throughout her career, she spent exhaustive time and own money buying school supplies and other items for her less fortunate students. Weekends and vacations were often spent grading papers, making lesson plans, and organizing. She retired from teaching in 2015 after 32 years of service.

Ruth was active in the Catholic Church from a young age, before college, during and after. She served as a Eucharistic Minister at St. Mary’s in College Station, Texas while an undergraduate at Texas A&M University, and then at Ken and Ruth’s family church St. Ignatius. Martyr Catholic Church before joining the St. Paul Catholic Church in Austin.

In addition to putting her best into her professional career, Ruth was even more devoted to family. To her extended family, she kept in regular contact with phone calls, letters and frequent visits. Sadly, early dementia took it’s toll on Ruth, one who would have greatly enjoyed being a grandmother as much as she loved being a mother.

Ruth is survived by her three children: Sarah (Oscar III) Garza, Kyle (Holly) Martin, Marissa (Fatih) Güngör and her five grandchildren: Oscar IV and Anthony Jared (AJ) Garza, McKinnley and Kallie Martin, and Esma Güngör. In addition, Ruth is survived by her six siblings and their families: Dean (Kate) Borens of Rothschild, WI; Maureen (Richard, deceased) East of Lone Star; Mary (Allen) Waits, and John S. (Laura) Borens, both of Longview; David (Brenda) Borens of Spring, Texas; and Jean (Dan) Harris of Goodyear, AZ. Predeceasing Ruth were her parents, John R. and Louise Borens, and brother-in-law Richard East as well as her in-laws L.C. and Betty Martin and nephew Michael Neitsch.

Arrangements are under the care of Cook-Walden Forest Oaks Funeral Home of Austin. A memorial guestbook may be signed at www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/austin-tx/ruth-martin-12549766.

The family requests that on lieu of flowers, school supplies be donated in Ruth’s name to an elementary school of your choice.