Ida Tomiko Martin

Ida, age 93, passed away in the late evening on April 12, 2025 in Glendale Arizona at Brookdale North Glendale, her memory care residence where the caregivers treated her like family for over two years.

She was born in Ichikawa Chiba Japan on February 21, 1932. She left Japan in 1957 after she married Richard Leland Martin (Dick) and the birth of her son Richard Leland Martin Jr. (Butch).

She became a US citizen in Kansas City after the birth of her daughter Ruth Anne Martin in 1959. Dick was in the Air Force at the time and the family moved to Germany in 1962 for 3 years where the family’s love of travel took shape going camping in Switzerland, Italy and Spain.

When they moved back to the states Dick transferred to the Army for better promotional opportunities as an officer and they spent her children’s formative years in Washington state near Fort Lewis as Dick was deployed to Viet Nam twice. They bought a house on Wauna Street in Lakewood so their children could stay in one place and they lived there till their daughter graduated from high school in 1977. Many lifelong friends were made on the cul-de-sac and beyond. Camping trips and visits to Vista California to see the grandparents were the norm for their family vacations. No Ritz Carltons for this group as money was saved to send her two kids to college.

Ida and Dick moved to Oceanside California in June 1977. They moved into the community of Rancho San Luis Rey where they developed a great social life joining many activity groups. After sending two kids to college, they treated themselves to a motor home going back to Washington state, California camping areas, Branson and Spring training in Arizona. Ida and Dick also enjoyed cruising starting out on a small local ship to Ensenada to eventually becoming a regular on Princess Cruises. They liked trying out the new ships. When Ida retired, she became active in the local Japanese center where she served on the board volunteering at their annual festivals and monthly bingo sessions. She also loved going to the local Indian casinos and go on her biannual trips to Las Vegas with the Japanese Ladies club.

Ida worked in retail primarily women’s fashion in Lakewood at Peoples and the B&I Marketplace. She was a Merchandiser for women’s apparel at Woolworths at the Carlsbad Mall for over 20 years.

She lived in Oceanside California for more than 45 years before moving to Arizona more than three years ago to be closer to her daughter.

She is survived by her daughter Ruth Martin and her husband Kenneth Hopson, her only grandson Richard Leland Martin III (Remy), his wife Carly and their son Richard Leland Martin IV (Leo) along with his mother Sarah Martin and sister Adeline Bokkes. May she now have peace as she joins her husband Dick and her son Butch.

There will be no memorials and her ashes will be spread in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego. Please do not send flowers. Those interested in remembering her can make a donation to the Alzheimer Association.