Barbara Joan Martin

Barbara Joan Martin

Barbara Joan Martin, a longtime tax collector in Knox, was a hardworking woman, devoted to her family.

She died peacefully on Friday, July 31, 2015, in Lakeland, Florida where she and her husband had moved to enjoy their retirement. She was 75.

Born in Brooklyn, Mrs. Martin came with her family to the Hilltowns where she met and married her husband of 55 years, Ronald F. Martin Sr. They met as students at Berne-Knox-Westerlo, said their daughter Deborah Howard.

“My dad was her hero,” said Ms. Howard. “She had a rough childhood. He came into her life and brought her happiness.”

A teacher, Ms. Howard also said of her parents, “They taught us good values...to be hard working. My mother taught me to love unconditionally. She taught me life is not easy and sometimes, when things are tough, you just have to stick with it, learn from your mistakes, and move forward.”

Mrs. Martin worked many jobs to help support her family: She was a waitress and a Realtor, an office manager and a tax collector. “My parents put money way,” said Ms. Howard. “She didn’t have any growing up and she wanted to make our lives better than she had.”

The Martins kept a large garden, which their three children helped weed. “We had every kind of vegetable you can think of,” said Ms. Howard. “We froze our food. That is how we survived; that is how we got through the winter.”

Ms. Howard remembers campaigning with her mother, a Democrat. “People would come to our home to pay their taxes,” she recalled.

Mrs. Martin was a Girl Scout leader and both of her daughters were in her troop.

“In Knox, her life consisted of being part of her children,” said Ms. Howard, concluding, “She was a determined woman and nurturing...We had a simple life. We didn’t come from money; we came from hard work.”

The last 15 years of Mrs. Martin’s life were different than the earlier years.  Before the Martins moved to Florida, they worked hard for their children. “Once they retired, they lived for themselves,” said Ms. Howard. They lived in Schalamar Creek where Mrs. Martin served on the association board. “It was her way of making friends,” said her daughter. Mrs. Martin also loved to play shuffleboard and golf, she said.

She remained devoted to her family and adored her grandchildren. “Even when my father didn’t want to travel up from Florida, she’d travel by herself to be with us for Christmas,” said Ms. Howard. “She loved her grandchildren so much.”

Her devotion to her husband never wavered. “My dad has brain cancer. She couldn’t live without him,” said Ms. Howard. “He’s failing. She couldn’t fathom living without him. She died of a broken heart.”

Ms. Howard concluded, “It’s beautiful to have that kind of love.”

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Barbara Joan Martin is survived by her husband, Ronald; her children, Daphne Hilt and her husband, Jeffrey, Deborah Howard, Ron Martin Jr. and his wife, Lori, and 12 loving grandchildren.  She is also survived by her sisters; Ellen Moak and her husband, Perry, Cecilia Baluha and her husband, Joe, and Theresa Lawrence.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Aug. 29, at 9:30 a.m. at St. Kateri Tekakwitha, 1803 Union St., Schenectady.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society at donate.cancer.org or to Post Office Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123.

— Melissa Hale-Spencer

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