Benita P . Martin

October 22, 1927 - March 13, 2022

Benita was born in Sanger, California. A 1945 Graduate of Clovis High School, she majored in English at what is now CSU Fresno and graduated armed with a teaching credential. It was there she met Merle L. Martin, a returning WWII veteran and national track star. They married in 1950 and their union produced three children, Merle L. Martin, Jr (Marty) and twins, Kerry and Kelly.

Benita enjoyed a multi-faceted career. She loved teaching English to high school and adult students and especially enjoyed a stint teaching at DeWolf Continuation High School. She was also a businesswoman, and second mom to many. She planned and executed numerous family vacations and trips to Shaver Lake, Santa Cruz and many national parks.

Sustained by her vibrant faith, she was instrumental in the development of Friends Community Church and also served the church community at First Presbyterian.

She was warm, welcoming, twinkly and an exceptionally gifted and talented listener. Blessed with a gentle sense of humor, she could also summon her "teacher voice" and things would get done! An avid reader, grammarian, See's candy aficionado, and dog lover, she was the center of gravity in her family. She will be sorely missed by Merle her spouse of 71 years, her children, Marty (Joanie), Kerry, Kelly, grandchildren, Gabriel and Joshua Martin, Niece Katy Madden, many friends, and the many whom she was a second mom. She was predeceased by her brother Jim Packard.

A memorial service will be held April 20, 2022 at First Presbyterian Church, Fresno at 11am. In Lieu of Flowers please consider donating to Evangel Home or Youth for Christ Fresno/Madera.