Martha Jane Bulldis

Martha Jane Weaver was born Aug 20, 1921, in Louisville, Kentucky. Her Father worked at Churchhill Downs Racetrack as a CPA. We always kidded that he was a bookie. Her mother, Virginia was a homemaker. She had an older brother Bill at that time. Martha was 2 years old when the family decided to move to California. Now in California, a younger brother Jim joined the family. Mom would always say they moved so many times all over National City when growing up she would come home from school and find they had moved again. That is probably why she has lived in her present house for 73 yrs. The longest they stayed in one home was 7 yrs at the Historic Brick Row in the thirty’s where for $35 a month they had a completely furnished 4 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, with a large parlor, and kitchen.

As a child, Martha had grace and modesty

Her favorite memories of grade school were giving and receiving valentines from friends and dancing around the May Pole in Spring. She said “life was good in those days”. Older Brother Bill loved ham radio operating. She would go into their bedroom in the Brick Row and look at the radio stuff and she remembered the sun would pour into their room and she would “sit there and bask in its warmth. They didn’t have much in material things. The simple things meant a lot. She didn’t get to finish at Sweetwater High School due to health reasons. She pretty much stayed home helping her mother around the house. She was a good girl, always her mom’s companion. Mom had always been shy and would really think before saying anything not wanting to hurt people’s feelings.

As a young woman and daughter, Martha had grace and modesty.

In those days people would usually have boarders in their home to help with cost. Their boarder was a young man who said to his brother. “you ought to meet the landlord’s daughter”. Martha got engaged to their boarder’s brother when she was 17 years old. She said even though he was very nice it didn’t work out, “he might have drank a little too much”. But one night, she and a friend went to a dance in Jamul, chaperoned by her mother. Where she met Chris Bulldis, “a young good looking 22 year old that was out on the dance floor quite a bit”. Unfortunately, he never got her phone number as “her mother was watching”. So the next week he drove up and down the streets of National City trying to see if he could find her. Well he did and a few months later they were married on Mar 9, 1940. Dad was doing well in Cement business so they bought a new car (a Chevy) and their brand new house on Del Mar Avenue. They fixed it up quite nicely. As I said before, She loved her home so much she ended up living there for 73 years. Mom was a devoted wife to dad. She had kept some notes dad left when he would come home for lunch that said “I love you”. Coming from dad that was huge. He was always the strong silent type when it came to feelings. I found them in the cedar box where she kept her special treasures. They had 60 wonderful years together She said the best thing she ever did in life is marry Chris C.

As a wife, Martha had grace and modesty.

Then in 1947 Chris Lee came along, and I a few years later. Mom always put her children first. We knew she would always be at home and that gave us a strong sense of security knowing that. She always made sure we were well fed (chubby kids) well clothed (always wanting to put me in ruffles and frilly things). She made sure we took up musical instruments such as accordion and piano. She wanted us to know classical music. She would always serve as a school room mother, she also served as a Cub Scout Den Mother and a Blue Bird Leader. Spiritually, she made sure we went to Sunday School, vacation bible school and church services every Sunday morning and evening.

She was not one to outwardly show her feelings, by hugging and kissing, but she loved her family very much and tried to bring us up in a “Christian Home”.

As a mother, Martha had grace and modesty.

When little Christopher came along Mom and Dad were so happy and so proud. They would beam when they were with him. They enjoyed baby sitting him and would do so often. Mom kept a baby food jar in her cedar box with a note inside. It read “Christopher’s first solid food, he really loved it”. It was apple sauce. And then along came Kayla, my mom had a very special bond with her. They tried to teach and give both of their grandchildren spiritual guidance. Later She welcomed Tara and Jesse into her life. She wanted every thing good for all of them.

As a grandmother, Martha had grace and modesty.

Mom didn’t have a lot of friends but for the friendships she had they were deep and loyal. If you told her a secret, you knew it was secure. She was not much of a talker, but she was definitely a good listener. She also liked to express herself in writing. I found a lot of her thoughts written down and in a way she was helping me write this eulogy. She was my best friend.

Mom loved to go to the plunge and swim and did that for many years until it was hard for her to get around. She loved to travel and went on many cruises and to Hawaii. Her favorite hobby was going to thrift stores. She would set out in the Buick and visit Vets, Salvation Army, Purple Heart and Goodwill. She loved looking and buying even in her 90s. She taught me the art of thrift store shopping. When I was a teenager I’d always be embarrassed to go in. But now I love it too. You do always in a way turn into your mom. She had a very dry sense of humor and would come out with some real zingers. The grandkids always would say she cracked them up with those.

Mom loved her jewelry. Sometimes she would wear 3 or more rings. She had very feminine taste in clothes and accessories. She loved to read the bible and copied down many scriptures. She loved to write her thoughts down and express herself in that way. She would always send a thank you card for the thank you cards she would receive. She loved old movies and knew each and every star’s name. She had an excellent memory for names.

She loved IHOP waffles with strawberries and whip cream.

As a friend, Martha had grace and modesty.

Mom and Dad had been married 60 years the month dad passed. Soon after, mom had written that she would like to live another 5 years and then move on. She made it to 13. She felt peaceful it was like he was still around. She said he worked so hard for everything we had and it was like he was still taking care of her and their children and grand children. She wrote, “He helped us a lot and he believed in doing for us while he was still alive.

Even after losing her husband, Martha had grace and modesty.

My mom had great faith in God. She was a devout Christian and taught her kids and grandkids to always do the right thing. Every Sunday she would be sitting on the 7th pew at First Southern Baptist Church here in Chula Vista. She had been a member there for 63 years. In one of the writings I found She wrote “Everyday when I awake I feel with certainty God will take me by the hand and guide my destiny. When I am feeling sad and blue and my cares intensify he’s beside me and I know in him I can rely if I hold my head up high my soul is sure to sing. Peace and hope will then be mine for he is everything. Every night before I sleep, serene with in his care, I over flow with happiness because I know he’s there”.

As God’s child Martha has grace and modesty.

She delivered Meals on Wheels for 30 years until it was too hard for her to get around. She also volunteered at Fredericka Manor in the physical therapy ward. Everyday she would look through every piece of mail and read every piece of the charity mail which she received a lot. She would donate to as many as monetarily possible. She took it very seriously. Her favorites were St. Jude, Doctors without Borders, Baptist Missionary Society, any animal abuse ones and she and dad have sponsored a girl from Africa for 23 years through World Vision. She liked to help people. She had a big heart. She even hated killing spiders in the house. We always had to save them and throw them outside.

Mom didn’t want to be a burden after death. Mom and Dad had made their arrangements at Glen Abbey in 1960. One day I came over to visit. She said to me “I’m 90 and will not be here much longer. I want to go over my wishes. I told her to write them down. I wasn’t quite ready to hear them. Mom had gone through her things and clothes and cleared out a lot of her nic nacs, etc. so not to be a burden to her family.

Even after passing Martha has grace and modesty.

Mom we love you, we will miss you terribly, but we know one day we will see you again.