Honorable Matthew G. "Marty" Martinez's Obituary
U. S. REPRESENTATIVE, CALIFORNIA
97TH - 106TH CONGRESS
July 13, 1982 -- January 2001
Former Member of Congress, Matthew G. "Marty" Martinez, 82, of Fredericksburg passed from this life on Saturday, October 15, 2011. He was at home.
He is survived by his wife, Maxine Grant, 5 children, 2 Stepsons, 15 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. Attending funeral services are daughters, Diane Mandaville of Portland, Oregon and Carol Gomez Jungwirth of West Covina, CA and granddaughter, Kate Aguilar of Oregon.
Visitation and Rosary is scheduled for Sunday, October 23, 2011 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Found and Sons Funeral Chapels-Cremation Service, 10719 Courthouse Road, Fredericksburg.
A Funeral Mass will be held Monday, October 24, 2011 at 10:00 AM at St. Jude Catholic Church, 10725 Courthouse Road, Fredericksburg with the Rev. James C. Hudgins officiating. Burial will follow the Mass in Quantico National Cemetery. Online condolences may be expressed to Marty’s family at foundandsons.com.
Marty and Max retired to Lake of the Woods in 2001 where Marty joined the Battlefield Council of the Knights of Columbus. He quickly achieved the title Worthy Sir Knight an honor of the Fourth Degree in May 2003. He volunteered, worked for and achieved Knight of the Month on two occasions. In 2008 with a move to Virginia Heritage he joined St. Jude Knights of Columbus where he is member in good standing.
Marty’s exemplary service in the U.S. House of Representatives where he was most passionate in fighting for children -- Head Start; our senior citizens -- Older Americans Act; for the disabled - Americans with Disabilities Act and for our Veterans. He was also cited as California’s Champion for the Education of Our Children.
A Veteran of the U.S. Marine Corp, Martinez served from 1947-1950. Upon joining the USMC in Los Angeles he was assigned to Camp Pendleton for boot training. From there he was deployed to the Pacific Islands to help get the Japanese soldiers out of island caves.
He then volunteered to serve in the Marine Expeditionary Force to China where he helped train the Nationalist troops of Chiang Kai-Shek. He spent two years in China. In 1949, he was part of the Marine force that helped evacuate the Nationalist Chinese to Formosa - Taiwan today. Upon his return to the U.S. he was a member of the Marine Corps boxing team and the football team. A Proud Marine - A Proud Veteran!
What’s your fondest memory of Matthew?
What’s a lesson you learned from Matthew?
Share a story where Matthew's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Matthew you’ll never forget.
How did Matthew make you smile?
