Ralph Bartlit Martin

Ralph Bartlit Martin was born in Long Beach, California on June 20, 1944 to Ralph Leon Martin and Mary Ann (Bartlit) Martin. He grew up in Long Beach, CA and later made his home in several places across the country, but his heart always belonged to Texas.

Ralph was a hard-working man who dedicated his career to GTE/Verizon phone company. He provided faithfully for his family and modeled dedication and perseverance in all that he did.

Ralph married Laveta (Younger) Martin on November 22, 1975. They were married for 46 years and raised their family in Los Alamitos, CA. In 1997, Ralph and Laveta retired to Burnet, TX where they enjoyed 18 years of peaceful country life. Ralph loved his time in Burnet, spending days on Inks Lake boating and fishing, and raising goats in his pasture. In 2015, they relocated to Temple Terrace, FL to be closer to family and grandchildren.

Ralph was a faithful member of several congregations throughout his life, most recently University Church of Christ in Tampa, Florida. It was through Laveta’s influence that Ralph came to know the Lord, and his faith became an anchor in his later years.

Ralph is survived by his son, John Martin (Su Oh) of La Crescenta, CA; his daughter, Kristi (Michael) Benson of Temple Terrace, FL; his grandchildren, Miles, Katie, Ava, Connor, Corey, and Caden; and his brother, Ty Smith (Lucy Smith) of Melbourne, FL.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Laveta Martin, and his parents, Ralph L. Martin, Mary Ann Smith and Tyrrel Smith. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ralph’s memory to the American Cancer Society.

A private family service will be held on Saturday, July 19, 2025.