Linda R. Martin, 79, of Rockford, passed away peacefully in her home, surrounded by family on Sunday, September 7, 2025. Linda was born on May 30, 1946, in Rockford to James and Oleta Barton. On September 12, 1964, she married her sweetheart, best friend and love of her life, Thomas “Tom” M. Martin Sr.
If you were lucky enough to play a round of Skip-Bo, Uno or Oh Hell with her, you probably never won. As Linda put it, "You have to be a piss poor score keeper not to win”. She also liked to play Golf/Polish Poker, Dominoes, Trivia games, and Shanghai Rummy. Her other hobbies included puzzles, fishing, traveling, cross-stitching, and knitting blankets for all her grandbabies. She liked to watch TV game shows, and when her alarm went off at 10 a.m. to take her medicine, her first thought was that it was time to watch The Price is Right.
Keeping her love of games alive are her children, Thomas M. (Ronda Sheldon) Martin Jr., Kelly R. (Merly) Martin, Colleen L. (Paul) Polak, Patty R. (Steve Ward) Martin; grandchildren, Thomas M. Martin III, Ashley (Mica) Brauer-Polak, Daniel T. (Emily) Kent, Jason E. Polak, Erin T. Kent, and Moira C. Martin; great-grandbaby (her favorite conversation topic), Rhett T. Kent; siblings, Rotha Waldsmith, Sharon Cebellos, and James Barton; her long-time friend Sandy Young, many nieces, nephews, in-laws, and extended family members. Linda was always happiest when surrounded by her beloved family and dear friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom; parents, James and Oleta.
The family would like to thank Northern Illinois Hospice (Rockford) for their exceptional care to Linda during this time of transition, and they encourage in lieu of flowers to please direct any memorials to them, or to St. Jude as Linda was a loyal contributor to their research.
