Martha Jean Nall

Martha J. Nall, age 94, passed away peacefully on Monday, June 12, 2017, at Pomerado Hospital in Poway, California. She was born October 7, 1922, in San Bernardino, and lived in San Diego her entire life. Martha was a graduate of Hoover High School, and later received her Associate of Arts degree at Grossmont Community College. She married Ronald H. Nall on October 4, 1940, in San Diego, and they were married until Ron’s death in 1989. Martha spent the first part of her married life working as a homemaker and mother. In 1966, she eagerly entered the workforce as a civil servant for the Federal Government helping young aspiring military personnel attain their educational goals.

Martha was a member of the Palomar Handweaver’s Guild, where she served as its newsletter chairperson for many years, several women’s golf groups in North County, the Triple L’s, and a variety of other informal groups, usually with women just having fun playing board and card games with vigor and joy (and a little bit of money).

Martha lived her life to the fullest. She was a talented and artful weaver, an avid regular golfer, she loved to travel, to go to casinos, to read, especially about world and American history. She appreciated artwork in all forms and genres, but most especially Native American art. Throughout her life, Martha had a passion for and embraced social justice causes, social activism, and political change for the good of all people. She actively participated in the Civil Rights and Anti-war movements in the 60’s, the Women’s movement in the 70’s, LGBTQ causes in the early 2000’s, and, as recently as January of this year, she proudly walked in the Women’s March in San Diego. She also canvassed neighborhoods well into her early 90’s to get out the vote and to encourage people to fight for what is right and just. When President Obama was elected in 2008 it was one of the happiest days of her life. She truly believed all of her civic engagement over the years had led our country to great change. While all of these passions defined Martha, her greatest passion was her family. She was extremely proud of all of her daughters and their various achievements and interests, and of their embracing of her same commitment to social justice. She often said, “I sure raised you girls right!”

Martha is survived by her daughters, Jeannie Oakes Lipton (Martin), Chris Conrad (Cathie Fruchtman), Linda Roehmholdt Depot, and Julianne Nall Phillips; her grandchildren, Lisa Oakes (Steve Luck), Tracy Oakes Barnett (Ron), Brooke Conrad, Matt Conrad, Tyler Roehmholdt (Rachael), Caitlyn Roehmholdt, Courtney Phillips, and Morgan Phillips; her step-grandchildren, Lowell Lipton (Rene) and Ethan Lipton; her great grandchildren Emily Barnett, Haley Barnett, Ashlin Fernandez, Courtlin Fernandez, Alison Luck, Carter Luck, and Soren Roehmholdt; and her great-great grandson, Jasper Fernandez.

A joyful celebration of Martha’s life will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, July 28th, at De Anza Cove in Mission Bay Park: 3000 N. Mission Bay Drive, San Diego, CA 92109

Memorial donations can be made to:

Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest

Development Department

1075 Camino del Rio South

San Diego, CA 92108

The family is deeply grateful for the outpouring of love and support in many heart-felt forms from too many to name individually, but including all of her friends and the staff at Casa de las Campanas, where she has resided over the last four fun-filled years, and the incredible staff at Pomerado Hospital, who not only took care of Martha, but of the family and friends who visited her during her last week of life, she was truly loved by them all.

“There is no death…only a change of worlds.” ~ Chief Seattle