April 17, 1929 –September 6, 2022 born in Atlanta, Macon Cty, Missouri. She went to Colorado Springs High School, Colorado Springs, Colo. Marthena worked at the movie theater in down town Colorado Springs and at the Broadmoor Hotel as an elevator girl. That is where she met Earl D. Wellborn. Earl joined the Navy, had asked Marthena to wait for him. He later sent the rings in the mail while serving on the USS Libra. They were married on December 24, 1946. Marthena was preceded in death by her beloved husband Earl D. Wellborn, parents, Hollan Nash and Gertrude Williams, sisters Joy Martin, Neola Reder, brothers Elwyn Nash, Eldon Nash and a young grandson Izaak Williams.
Marthena is survived by sister Gwendolyn Endsley, daughters Jacalyn Smith/Mike, Linda Earline/Jim Thune, Deborah Baan/Bruce and Gaylyn Waldmann/Jerry , son Gary Wellborn /Paula, fifteen grandchildren, twenty six Great grandchildren and four Great, Great Grandchildren.
The life Marthena had was not always packing and moving. She loved her crafts, sewing clothes, fishing and camping. Her and Earl made matching poodle skirts for the girls for when they met Earl’s Aunt Bertha in Alaska. She wanted everything perfect. Dressing well was always an important part of her life and the children. She would always have the children bathed and clean clothes on by 5:00, hot meals for when Earl returned from work.
Earl’s time in the Navy of 4 years then chose the Army. During his military commitment, Marthena would not hesitate to pick up and move to the next station/ fort. They lived in Minnesota, Massachusetts, Colorado, Arizona (3 times), Alaska while it was a territory and then became a state, and Goppingen, Germany and Montana. They opened up their home to a young man, Jimmy Denzlinger and wife Linda, stationed in Germany under Earl. Jimmy and his wife spent every Sunday dinner at the Wellborn’s home. Marthena and Earl adopted them in those three years and have remained a good part of the family still.
Service to our Country was always important to our family. Marthena and Earl’s son Gary-Navy, Grandsons Thomas Blanchard-Navy Reserves and Border Patrol, Matthew and Jared Baan, David Waldmann – Air Force, Kevin Smith – Army,
Great Grandsons Tyler and Matthew Smith- Army. Marthena was very proud of her grandsons. All her grandchildren were her blessings.
Marthena was waiting for God’s time to take her walk with Earl. May she rest in peace with out pain.
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