Juanita Lee Martin

August 19, 1920 - September 14, 2021

SAN DIEGO, CA — Juanita was the first born to Iva & Oscar Middleton. She grew up on a dairy in Joplin, Missouri, with 5 younger siblings.

Never shy, she sang at school assemblies. Though her parents couldn’t afford singing lessons, when Juanita had daughters (Cheryl Ede of San Diego & Pam Evans of Bentonville), she hired a piano teacher & enrolled them in dancing lessons. Empathy & generosity were her middle names, as she & Rodney helped each daughter & granddaughter throughout their lives.

When she met Rodney, he also became a milker, in exchange for dinner. After they married, Oscar bought a milking machine.

Living at Wesley Palms from 2013 (after Rodney died) to December 2020 gave Juanita more time for favorite pastimes – happy hour singing & joke telling (Juanita’s talent in the annual residents’ talent show).

She & Rodney loved to travel & took Cheryl & Pam to the end of the Frisco line – Veracruz, Mexico, in 1950. They continued with trips to Europe during their senior years. About travel, Juanita said: “It’s like a college education.”

Juanita is survived by her daughters, 2 granddaughters, 4 grandchildren & 1 great-grandson.

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