Martha L Wilson

Martha Lorene Sloan was storm born on the Texas prairie and knew how to cope with hardship. Her mother went into labor during a snowstorm on February 22, 1934, on their cotton farm in South Maye, Texas. Her father, OB, braved the snow in a horse-drawn wagon to fetch his sister to help with the delivery. Growing up, Martha and the whole family worked on the farm, milking the cows, feeding the pigs, and getting out of school when it was time to pitch in and pick the cotton.

OB gave up the farm when Martha was in 11th grade, and they moved into the nearby town of Sherman, where Martha finished high school. After graduating, she got a job at the local movie theater, and that’s where she met the great love of her life, Glenn.

Martha initially wasn’t interested; she tried to send him to talk to her sister, Dorothy, who worked nearby. But Glenn got halfway there and realized he didn’t want to talk to Dorothy—so he turned around and went back to ask Martha on a date. They finally went out on a date, and after Glenn dropped her off at her house, he peeked through the window to see if she looked sad that he had left. He was disappointed to find that she was in her kitchen, happily eating ice cream without a care in the world. Eventually, he won her over with his east coast charm, and after they married in 1954, they endured a lifelong adventure on the move.

Their children, Betty and Charlie, were born in Texas. Glenn was overseas for long periods of time; he was posted to Greenland twice and went to Thailand and Vietnam. Martha was the glue that held their family together, and she was a strong woman who wasn’t afraid to take on new challenges. A great example of this is shown later in her life when she taught herself how to use the computer, especially social media and email. She loved to tinker and learn how to do things on her own. This resulted in a few trips to Geek Squad to fix virus-laden computers, but she never let that deter her curiosity.

She worked several jobs throughout Glenn’s time in the Air Force. At one point, she was a bookkeeper for a clothing store. Most people did their accounting in pencil, but Martha was so meticulous that she could do her books in pen. This was a trait she carried with her in everything she did.

The family moved all over the United States, but Martha’s heart was always in Texas. In 1975, Glenn left the Air Force, and they moved back to Texas, where they stayed put for 40 years. Back home, Glenn and Martha got to spend lots of time with their five grandchildren. Martha was always great at coming up with creative ways to entertain the kids. She loved to refer to her grandchildren as her “pals.” Martha loved to play poker and visit casinos. Her motto to her grandchildren was always “play to win,” and she had no qualms about beating you in a card game fair and square. This often led to many crying children, but as adults, they all credit Martha with their drive and competitive nature that has served them well in life.

Our family endured many hardships throughout our lives, and we all remember how committed Martha was to her family. Sometimes she would show up every single day for months on end to help those who were sick or by watching over her grandchildren. She preached that you should always be there for your family no matter what. She was the living embodiment of that message.

You would never see her without a Dr. Pepper in her hand. She loved listening to Willie Nelson and growing beautiful red roses in her backyard. Above all, she enjoyed spending time with her family and hosting dinners at their home. Her husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were the most important people in her life.

Glenn passed away in 2015 after 63 years of marriage. While this was a tough loss, Martha remained the strong, loving woman that she always was. Glenn was the gregarious and outgoing person in the family, and Martha was the sassy and strong one who kept the family together. They were an inseparable pair, and our family has found peace because they are reunited once again. The loss of Martha leaves the world a little darker without her in it, but we were so lucky to have her in our lives and that we could experience the unconditional love she had for her family.

We love you, Mom/Grandma. Until we meet again.

In lieu of flowers, Martha’s family asks that you donate to one of these charities that represent something near and dear to her heart.

• CSD Unites Community Foundation is dedicated to strengthening organizations working with deaf communities. https://foundation.csd.org/donate/

• The American Cancer Society Relay for Life raises funds for a future free from cancer. https://secure.acsevents.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=relay_donate_now

• The Tunnel to Towers Foundation honors those who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country by providing mortgage-free homes to surviving spouses with young children. https://t2t.org/donate/