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Martina Ochoa Edwards, loving daughter, sister, and mother of five children, passed into heaven on Friday morning, December 10, 2021, at the age of 87. Martina was born on January 30, 1934 in San Antonio, Texas, to Panfilo Limon Ochoa and Jesusa Almenderez. She grew up in San Antonio and graduated from Brackenridge High School in 1952. In 1957, she married Richard Edwards, and they were married for 53 years. While working a full-time job and raising five children, Martina took night courses at the University of Texas at San Antonio until she achieved one of her most desired goals: graduating from college with a bachelor’s degree. All her life, Martina was an extremely hard worker. Immediately after graduating from high school, she took a full-time position at Kelly Air Force Base. She sacrificed and saved much of her pay, and a few years later, she purchased a lot on General McMullen drive, where the family house was built. Her parents lived in that home for the rest of their lives. After moving a few times with her husband Richard, who served in the United States Air Force, they returned to San Antonio with their children and settled down in 1973. She was re-hired by Kelly Air Force Base as a transportation specialist and worked there for the remainder of her professional career, retiring at the age of 67 when the base was closed in 2001. Martina was a fierce competitor and an exceptional athlete. These traits led to her success in several sports. Her favorite was tennis. In high school, she and her playing partner won several tournament championships in girls’ doubles play, along with a City championship. After graduation, she played city league softball and volleyball. Her CYO volleyball team qualified for a state tournament after winning the district championship for the City Recreation Department League. During her marriage, she learned how to bowl and quickly excelled. Her teams claimed league championships and she won the award for top bowler in the women’s division. She also liked to coach when time permitted. In 1978, she became the first woman to manage a Major League division baseball team (9 – 12 years old) at Columbia Little League in San Antonio, leading the Phillies to the league championship in her first year. Martina was also an avid fan. Her favorite sports to watch were tennis, figure skating, gymnastics and basketball. She faithfully watched the annual U.S. gymnastics and figure skating championships and always tuned in to see these competitions in the Olympics. To her children’s knowledge, she never missed a women’s Grand Slam tennis final, and her favorite player all-time was Chris Evert. She adored the Spurs basketball team that won four championships from 2003 to 2014, always paying close attention to Manu Ginobili, the player she admired most. Martha also loved music and dancing. In her early teen years, she danced in San Antonio with the Ballet Folklorico and played tambourine. Throughout her marriage, she and her husband Richard enjoyed going to dance clubs. They were skilled at a variety of dance styles, their favorites being the jitterbug, rumba, salsa and contemporary. In her home, music was always playing, and she could be found dancing in bedrooms while vacuuming, in the kitchen while cooking, and in any other area of the house that afforded enough room for a quick jig and a spin. Christmas music was a particular favorite of hers, and throughout the holiday season she played it, singing and dancing along. But of all her qualities, Martina’s faith in God was paramount. She was a devout Catholic, regularly attending church for the duration of her life, and was dedicated to the St Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church for the last 22 years. At SEAS for those years, she was a Eucharistic Minister, participated in seasonal fundraisers and taught classes to young parishioners. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, and for a time wrote and distributed their monthly newsletter. She was constantly furthering her understanding of the Bible and often took classes offered at SEAS. Of her character, Martina was known for her tenacious and indomitable spirit, her genuine and direct demeanor, and her love for and dedication to her parents, her brothers and sisters, her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Ms. Edwards is preceded in death by her brothers, Henry and Ben Ochoa, and her grandson, Daniel Alvis. She is survived by her children, Guy Edwards and his wife, Kim; Susan Carter and her husband, Otto; Rick Edwards and his wife, Colleen; David Edwards and his girlfriend, Linda Padilla; and Jack Edwards and his wife, Melinda; by her grandchildren, Christopher, Nicole, Anthony and Adam; John and Sean; Madison and Maverick; Holden and Kylie; and Brooke and Addison, along with 7 great grandchildren; her sisters, Frances Ochoa, Victoria “Vicky” Ruiz and her husband, Raul; and numerous nieces and nephews. SERVICES Visitation will begin at 6:00 p.m. followed by a Rosary at 7:00 P.M. on Thursday, December 16, 2021 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 8500 Cross Mountain Trail. The Funeral Mass will begin at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, December 17, 2021 at the Church. Interment will follow at San Fernando Cemetery 3.

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Martina Ochoa Edwards

January 30, 1934 - December 10, 2021