Rachel E. Martinez

She was born in Ciales, Puerto Rico on March 9, 1928. In 1929, her parents moved from Puerto Rico to New York where Rachel grew up and graduated from Yorkville High School of Women’s Services and Trades. She then studied at New York Foundling Hospital School of Baby Nursing and graduated in 1948. Rachel worked at New York Foundling Hospital as a baby nurse with orphans. After meeting the love of her life, Tomas, they married and moved to Miami, Florida, and where she continued studying and working hand in hand with her parents, who had established The First Spanish Church of the Open Bible. In Miami she attended and graduated first in her class at the Miami Bible Institute of the Assemblies of God. She was a licensed and ordained minister with Open Bible Standard Churches, where she developed and directed the Bible quiz teams, youth choir, youth pastor, youth counselor, Sunday school teacher, conference speaker, involved with Ladies Retreats, and served on the District youth board. She also taught at the Theological Seminary, where she mentored hundreds which today are in full-time ministry.

After retiring, Rachel and her husband moved to Ocala, Florida, where they became members of Marion Oaks Assemblies of God. She continued teaching and served on a pastoral board. She leaves a great legacy, and even though in her late years she was afflicted with Dementia, she Never lost her Praise! an ever sweet spirit for her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and those she came across.

Rachel is survived by her son Thomas and his wife, Oyla Martinez; daughter, Linda and her husband, Gary Cregier, her grandchildren, Jeremy Cregier and Staci Smith; Great Grandchildren, Skylar, Maverick, Chloe, and Stella, and one on the way named Jude who were all the apples of her eye. Rachel’s siblings are her sisters Sara Rodriguez, Adeline Ramos, Sylvia Arroyo, and Ruth Perez, and brothers Robert Dominguez, Rev. Gabriel Dominguez, and Carlos Dominguez.

Rachel touched so many lives with her gentle ways of teaching and unconditional love for all! She will be greatly missed!

Welcome thy Good and Faithful Servant, Enter into the Rest of the Lord.