Roy Weldon Martin

"Weldon" Martin was born October 20, 1929, in Malakoff, Texas. He was the second son born to Harvey and Ruby Martin.He loved his childhood in Malakoff, going to rodeos, hunting in the woods, and getting into mischief.

His family relocated briefly to Bakersfield, California, and then moved to Needles, California. at age 12. His first job at age 12 was at a bowling alley setting pins, then delivering milk for Willis dairy. He also worked at the Needles bakery. The family were active members of the First Baptist Church in Needles.

He attended Needles High School and was captain of the tennis team and the B basketball team. He was awarded the sports Intramural trophy his Senior of which he was very proud.

At age 17, he enlisted in the new Air Force and became a radio operator. He said it was in the Air Force that he was called "Roy" and not Weldon. He served in Colorado Springs where he met and married his first wife, Susan Baldwin.

They returned to Needles, where he got a job for the Santa Fe Railroad and they moved to Colton. He worked out of the San Bernardino train yard..

In October, 1954, he was hired as a San Bernardino County Deputy Sheriff, and worked at the SB jail a few months before being transferred to Needles, California. In the meantime, daughter Sharon Ann was born December 6, 1951, and Sandra Diane was born May 13, 1955.

In June, 1955, the family moved to Needles, California..In Needles there was only 1 deputy per shift and sometimes the shifts were 24 hours. He dragged the river after drownings,, ran calls out in the desert, and recalled these years with colorful stories.

In 1960, he promoted to Detective and was transferred to 29 Palms where he also joined the Masonic Lodge.

In 1962, he promoted to Sergeant and was assigned to the Glen Helen Correctional Facility, and the family moved back to Colton.

In 1967, he married Barbara Kennedy Post,, after divorcing Susan. They said jokingly, "They met in jail."

Barbara had one child from a previous marriage, Cindy Ann Post.

Roy, Barbara, Cindy, Sharon and Sandy moved into a new home in Colton. Roy and Barbara joined many clubs and organizations. He remained active in Masons.

Roy medically retired from the Sheriff's Dept in 1972, after he had a work related neck injury (he said, "He broke his neck"} and had a surgical spinal fusion.

He then worked for the Colton School District as a bus driver for 7 years.

They relocated to Grand Terrace in 1974.

From 1977 until 2018, he and Cindy worked for the same companies. The latter years he was able to work from his computer at home, working part-time, 4 a.m. to 9 a.m. He went to bed at 6 p.m.

He also enjoyed coaching softball and baseball teams for his grandchildren. He loved weekend lunches with his family and going to yard sales with Barbara. He enjoyed bowling with his brother and sister in law and almost bowled a 300 game.

His wife, Barbara, passed away in 2017. Then, Roy moved in with his daughter, Sandy. His new job of full-time assistant babysitter (a volunteer position) for the great grandkids started. He passed away, September 1, 2021.He is loved dearly and missed by all of his family.