Thelma Garza Martinez

Thelma “Tag” Garza Martinez, daughter of Erasmo Garza and Bessie Rone Garza Balladares, passed away quietly at her home in Dublin, Ohio following a courageous battle with ALS, on Tuesday, November 22, 2016; she was 68. Born in Laredo, Texas, she was a member of the class of 1966 at J.W. Nixon High School. She went on to earn her B.A. in Sociology at the University of Texas at El Paso in 1969, and her Masters of Social Work at The Ohio State University in 1993. This spirited redhead was united in holy matrimony to Henry Anthony Martinez on November 14, 1970; they were married 46 years. Together, they had two children. Thelma was preceded in death by her parents and younger brother, Michael Balladares. A dedicated champion of children, she worked over 30 years as an Associate Director at Franklin County Children Services. She was an optimist and had a true gift for mentoring others. Because of her generous nature and wicked sense of humor, she was uniformly beloved by all of her coworkers and friends. She was also a strong advocate of animal rescue, which led her to adopt several needy pups. Tag enjoyed gardening, movies, and cheering on her beloved Buckeyes. She cherished and shamelessly spoiled her grandchildren. She is survived by her loving spouse and caregiver, Henry. Her life will forever be reflected in the lives of her children: Melissa Martinez Bondy and her husband Michael, and Stephen Anthony Martinez; her grandchildren, Mario and Mira Bondy; her brothers and sisters – Bobby Garza and his wife Hortencia; Melinda Cantu and her husband Blas; David Balladares and his wife Dalia; Richard Balladares and his wife, Alice; Oscar Balladares and his wife, Katerine; cousins Delfina Garza and her husband, Ricardo; Cynthia Trichel and her husband, Doug; as well as many beloved nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. The family would like to express a special thank you to Heartland Hospice, and especially to caregiver, Helen Anstaett, for the care, support, and love provided during Tag’s final months. A funeral mass will be held at Our Lady of Victory Church in Grandview Heights, Ohio on Friday, December 9, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. Burial will take place at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorial donations be made to the ALS Association of Central and Southern Ohio. Arrangements by RUTHERFORD-CORBIN FUNERAL HOME, 515 High St., Worthington, OH 43085. “How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” --A. A. Milne

Thelma Garza Martinez

September 22, 1948 - November 22, 2016