Martha Martin Smith's Obituary
Martha Jeanette Martin Smith passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 11, 2024 at the age of 74, surrounded by her three daughters. She is survived by her children Monica Karunakaran, Earlene Camarillo, and Vanessa Smith, her grandson Oliver Karunakaran, her sons-in-law Shiv Karunakaran, Daniel Camarillo, and Daniel Eini, and her siblings Ethel Horton, Bonnie Selstrom, Louise Meeks, Nancy Barker, Betty Boatman, and Bill Martin. She was preceded in death by her husband, Kent Campbell Smith, with whom she shared 40 years of marriage. To those lucky enough to know her, Martha will be remembered as a woman of quiet strength, determination, and limitless compassion.
Born on April 10, 1950 in Des Moines, Iowa to Charles and Margaret Martin, Martha was a remarkable woman known for her kindness, intelligence, and resilience. Throughout her life, she repeatedly challenged social barriers, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and later a Master of Divinity, both fields women were rarely encouraged to pursue at that time. After being ordained, Martha served as a pastor in northern California before pursuing a 38-year career in telecommunications information technology and management with AT&T. Despite this career shift, her faith and spirituality continued to be a guiding force in her life, making her a trusted and reliable friend and member of the community.
A dedicated and hardworking manager, she balanced a successful career with an unwavering devotion to her family. No matter how busy life became, Martha always made her children a priority — helping with homework, attending school events, and cheering them on at tennis matches and swim meets. They could always count on her encouragement and support. Together with her husband, she instilled in her children a love for travel and the outdoors, often organizing family trips to explore places like Palomar Mountain, Yosemite and Joshua Tree National Parks, and even pulling off a family road trip across the United States. In later years, she loved visiting her daughters, who could always count on her for a listening ear, a voice of reason, and helpful advice. At all times, her love and support were freely given and ever present.
Underneath it all, Martha had a creative spirit. She loved overcoming challenges with inventive solutions and had a knack for fixing things.You could see her creativity and determination reflected in her beautiful crochet and seamstress work as well as her musical endeavors. She had a captivating singing voice, enjoyed playing in the church’s handbell choir, and had recently started re-learning how to play the violin. It was this “can-do” attitude combined with a calm, level-headed approach to life that made her such a comforting source of reassurance when times were difficult. She knew what to do when it mattered most and was always willing to lend a helping hand.
After retiring in 2016, Martha embraced her love of travel, exploring places like Alaska, Ireland, and New Mexico, and visiting multiple states to reconnect with her siblings. The ocean was one of her favorite spots, and she spent many peaceful days listening to the waves in Carlsbad, CA.
In between her adventures, she always made time for trips to visit her grandson, Oliver. From the moment she held him as a newborn, their connection was undeniable. As a grandma, her joy, laughter, and comfort forged an unbreakable bond between them.
Martha will be remembered for her tenacity, a deep love for her family, and her ability to bring comfort and calm to those around her. Her legacy of love, resilience, and compassion will live on in the hearts of everyone who knew her.
A public Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, September 14, 2024 at 10am.
First Congregational Church of Escondido
1800 N Broadway, Escondido, CA 92026
Martha will be laid to rest in a private ceremony at Miramar National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider donating to one of the following charities that were close to her heart:
Yosemite Conservancy: https://yosemite.org/donate/gift-in-memory
California State Parks Foundation: https://act.calparks.org/a/donate
Defenders of Wildlife: https://support.defenders.org/page/27176/donate
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