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Richard (Dick) Williams Martinez, born June 12, 1937 in Burley, Idaho to Pedro Fillipe and Florence Vianna Justesen Martinez passed away peacefully at home February 1, 2004 with his loving wife of 47 years and children at his side, after a long and agonizing battle with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). Reo, as he was known by his family and close friends was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Pete Martinez, Jr.; and sister, Adella Pina. He is survived by his wife, Joyce Anderson Martinez; brother, Arthur Sheron of Ogden, Utah; sisters, Bertha Tehero of Ogden, Utah, Florence Whitaker of Far West, Utah, Patricia Bedford of Clinton, Utah; his sons, Vincent Reo Martinez and wife, Catherine of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Mitchell Craig Martinez of Las Vegas, Nevada; daughter, Jacqueline Martinez Holeman and husband, Dave of Poulsbo, Washington; nine grandchildren, Carmen, Richard, Vincent, Cameron, Carl, Peter, Joyce, Avalon, Jamie; one great-grandchild, Danny and two on the way. At the age of four Reo's parents moved the family to Ogden, Utah, where he grew up. In 1954 he enlisted in the United States Navy, serving aboard ammunition and supply ships during the Korean War. While home on leave he met and eventually married Joyce Anderson of South Ogden on January 30, 1957. Upon leaving the Navy in 1958 he moved back to Ogden, Utah where he began his career with the Department of Defense at Hill Air Force Base. While raising his family he attained bachelor's degrees in Sociology and Psychology. In 1969 he transferred to Southern California to manage contracts with North American Rockwell, Rocketdine and the government in development of the space shuttle. In 1975 he moved the family to Albuquerque, New Mexico where he worked as Contract Administrator for the Department of Defense at Kirtland Air Force Base. In 1982 Reo and Joyce moved to Bellevue, Washington, where he finished his career as Chief Administrative Officer in Materials Management for the Department of Defense in contracts with Boeing. He retired in 1988. His life long joy was children. From his own children to his nieces and nephews, from his grandchildren to the local neighborhood children where he lived Reo always surrounded himself with kids, entertaining and teaching all the time and enjoying every minute. Up until he was diagnosed with PSP it was his ambition to use his degrees counseling troubled youth. PSP is a rare degenerative brain disease that attacks the brain and causes slowing or inability to generate voluntary movement and axial rigidity. The most common characteristic or aspect of PSP is the inability to move the eyes, with the first symptoms being unsteadiness and falling. Memorial donation may be made to PSPinformation.com or to the Hospice of Kitsap County. At his request services will not be held.
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