Obituaries - Sept. 17, 1997

Robert V. Martinez of Ventura, a retired steelworker, died Tuesday of natural causes at a local hospital. He was 72.

He was born March 14, 1925, in Los Angeles and was a 15-year Ventura County resident.

Martinez worked for Bethlehem Steel in Maywood, southeast of downtown Los Angeles, for 37 years, retiring in 1982 as a weight master.

His daughter, Olivia Huffman of Ventura, remembers her father as an able craftsman who could build a room addition as easily as he could a hutch.

“He was great with his hands,” Huffman said. “He totally redid our house, adding a family room and a master bedroom. He pretty much did the whole thing.”

Her father spent his life devoted to work and church, Huffman said. “They were pretty much his two loves.”

While still living in the Los Angeles area, Martinez was a member of the Deacon’s Club at Montebello Foursquare Church.

Since his move to Ventura in 1982, Martinez had been active at South Coast Fellowship Church in Ventura. Taking charge of maintenance at the house of worship on Market Street was his way of giving back to the church, Huffman said.

In addition to his daughter, Martinez is survived by his wife of 50 years, Romelia; daughter Adeline Taylor of Whittier; son Robert of Loma Linda; 13 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Huffman was preceded in death by a daughter, Yolanda Zaragosa.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Ted Mayr Funeral Home, Ventura.

A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at South Coast Fellowship in Ventura, with Martinez’s son-in-law, Pastor John Huffman, officiating.

Chapel services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at the Memorial Chapel of Rose Hills Memorial Park, Whittier, with burial following.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Yolanda Zaragosa Memorial Fund, c/o South Coast Fellowship, 4050 Market St., Ventura 93003. The fund was established to provide support for Zaragosa’s youngest daughter, a junior at Buena High School in Ventura.

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Ventura County obituaries are published free of charge as a public service to readers. Obituaries are based on information provided by mortuaries.