Lou Ella Johnson Martin

Lou Ella Johnson Martin

May 13, 1931 – December 26, 2024

Lou Ella was born in Glendale, California on May 13, 1931. She passed away on December 26, 2024, in Murrieta, California. Lou Ella was a remarkable woman with many positive attributes. She was extremely intelligent and discovered early in life her love of math and science. She came from humble beginnings so her ability to attend college would depend on scholarships. She was pleasantly surprised when she was awarded the UCLA Alumni Scholarship so she could pursue her interests in math and science. At UCLA, Lou met the love of her life, Bill Martin, at a meeting of the American Chemical Society. They recognized their close bond and were married on August 31, 1951, and enjoyed 72 years and 11 months together.

Lou was very persistent and had uncanny attention to details. This paid off when Lou decided to enter the workforce after receiving her associate’s degree. She found employment in the burgeoning aerospace industry, where her math skills were highly valued. One of her favorite jobs was making calculations for rocket launches and early unmanned satellites. Lou loved her work, but she was always one to put her family first and soon left to take care of her growing family. 

During her years as a full-time homemaker, some of Lou’s hidden creative talents came out. Lou would frequently have a knitting or crocheting project going, making afghan blankets for each of her children and grandchildren. Early on when the children were young, she would sew their outfits. Her rose garden was always spectacular, and she also grew peaches which she would use in her famous pie recipe. She loved to bake; some of her specialties were brownies, cinnamon rolls and cakes for special occasions. She took up cake decorating and it became a tradition of hers to make the wedding cakes for those who got married, along with cakes for each family member’s birthday and the traditional Christmas choo choo train cake which she made for over 68 years.

Lou’s creativity, attention to detail, and persistence were also prominent during her retirement years with Bill. Together they spent numerous years researching and publishing genealogy books about their families. They traveled the country, pouring over birth and death certificates and meticulously recorded the minute details of their ancestors’ lives. Throughout Bill and Lou’s life together, they enjoyed taking walks with their German Shepherds, backpacking the Sierras, golfing, watching Jeopardy and spending time with their children and grandchildren.

Lou Ella was the backbone of her large family. It was her tolerance, strength and resilience that held her family together. When she was only 15, she stepped up and helped take care of her young sisters after her mother died. Later when she married Bill, she was a tremendous support to him. Without hesitation she followed him as Shell Oil Company transferred him all over the country, taking care of all the details necessary for her family of six to thrive, and always being there to offer support and encouragement. She will be missed deeply by all who knew her.

Lou Ella was preceded in death by her beloved husband, William Albert Martin, Jr.; her mother, Viola Johnson; her father, Harold Johnson; her brother Wendell Johnson and her son-in-law, Clyde Johnson. She is survived by her sisters, Beth Taylor and Cheryl Jansen; her daughters, Patty Johnson, Tina Martinez, and Kathleen Higgins; her son, Steven Martin; sons-in-law, Clark Hilden and Keith Higgins; grandchildren, Christina Johnson, Maria Martinez, Jasmine Stitt, Rachel Martin, Diana Martinez, Danielle Martin, Ian Martin and Stacie Summers; and great grandchildren, Evelyn Stitt, Adeline Stitt and Lydia Summers.

In lieu of flowers, you are welcome to send a donation in Lou Ella Martin’s memory to the American Lung Association.