Ruth "Omi" Martin

Ruth "Omi" Martin, aged 90, passed away in the evening of April 12, 2025, in Spartanburg, SC.

Born in Merzen, Germany, she was one on 10 children of Clemmons and Pauline Massman. She immigrated to America in the late 1950s, sailing here aboard the ocean liner Italia. She lived in New Jersey, sharing a house with 3 of her siblings who also immigrated.

She met Thurlow "Bud" Martin Jr of New Jersey, and they married in March 1961. In the spring of 1977 they moved to Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Ruth enjoyed being with her granddaughters playing cards. She loved being outdoors, gardening and bird watching. She could often be found sitting on the back porch watching the birds and squirrels, enjoying the fresh air and sunshine.

Everyone will remember her for her smile, her persistent optimism, and the loving but honestly direct way she treated everyone. To her own children's friends, she was a second mom, and to her grandchildren's friends she was "Omi" (grandma}.

Ruth is pre-deceased by her husband of 34 years Thurlow "Bud" Martin Jr, her parents Clemmons and Pauline Massman, brothers Theo, August, Ewald and Paul as well as sisters Ulla, Maria, Theresa and Inge.

She is survived by her sister Julianna.

She is also survived by her daughter Diana M. Dill and husband Jim of Roebuck SC, son Thurlow "Buddy" Martin III and wife Kendra of Mount Prospect, IL, and grandsons Aaron S Dill, Robert A. Martin and Everett B. Martin.

Also surviving Ruth are great grandchildren Lexi Dill and Khloe Greenway as well as a great granddaughter due in November.

Funeral Mass will be 2:00pm on Friday, June 20, 2025, at Jesus Our Risen Saviour Catholic Church on Reidville Road in Spartanburg, SC. Internment will be in the columbarium of the church.

In lieu of flowers, prayers are all that is asked for.