Paula Kathryn Martin

Paula K. Martin of Grand Prairie, Texas passed away on 15 January 2024 at the age of 85. She was born on 26 September 1938 in Ft. Worth to Raymond and Kathryn Roberts and ultimately moved to Grand Prairie, where she spent her youth with her best friend and sister Gayle. She graduated from Grand Prairie High School in 1956, a proud Gopher. She then attended North Texas State University where she received her degree in education and was a member of the Alpha Phi Sorority and Angel Flight.

She then married Andy Childers and moved to Big Spring, Texas where she taught elementary school. Her husband’s military service resulted in a series of moves to Georgia, Hawaii, California, and ultimately back to Texas. Over the course of these years, Paula gave birth to two daughters and, having been a Girl Scout herself, became a troop leader for her girls and others in her neighborhood. This influenced her decision to serve as a professional Girl Scout for Circle T Council.

Later, Paula received her certification from Scottish Rite Hospital to teach children with learning differences and taught for many years at various schools in the Dallas Ft. Worth area. During this time, she met and married her second husband, Robert Martin and became a bonus mom to his four children and shared a life full of love, family, friends, dancing, and Texas travel. She was especially proud to serve alongside Robert in ministry as a Pastor’s wife.

After Robert’s death in 2015, Paula moved to Mountain Creek Senior Community where she made many friends, served on Resident Council, and as a home room grandmother at a local elementary school.

Paula was preceded in death by her beloved Robert, her sister Gayle, and her parents, Raymond and Kathryn Roberts. She is survived by her daughters, Dana Fay, Jill Gallagher, and son-in-law, Will Gallagher, Rhonda Martin and her partner Cindy Grantham, Stephanie Atkins and son in law Kenny Atkins, Jason Martin and daughter-in-law, Alesia Martin, Kelley Harris and son-in-law, Tim Harris, grandchildren Killian Gallagher, Delayna Atkins, Shelby Martin, and Dillon Martin. She will also be dearly missed by her nieces Pam Reeves and her husband, Russell, and Susan Fadness and her husband, Rich, and their children. She was also a loving great-grandmother and beloved friend to many from GPHS, Mt. Creek, Circle I, and her Girl Scout and teaching careers.

A Memorial Service will be held for Paula on Friday, January 26th at 10am, at Bean-Massey-Burge Funeral Home. The address is 2951 Beltline Rd., Grand Prairie TX. 75052.