In Memoriam : Martha Benton
Martha Elizabeth Benton - age: 90
(January 11, 1935 to February 14, 2025 ) Resident of Visalia, California Visitation Information: Pending. Obituary: Martha was the daughter of Maurice and Elizabeth (Rankin) Gamboe. She was born in the same house that her mother was born on farm out in the country of Dundee Michigan. She attended Dundee High School where she studied Latin because she wanted to be a nurse. Martha was raised on a farm that grew tomatoes. Martha drove the truck around the age of 12 to pick up workers and take tomatoes to the factory. Martha took care of her younger brother, Clyde who was a diabetic and needed insulin. She also maintained the house by cleaning and cooking the meals besides working in the field. Martha married James Benton in Prescott, AZ September 22, 1951. She became a Pastor’s wife for 66 years, James passed away in 2017. Martha was a Proverbs 31 women of God that knew He answered prayer. A mother that loved her children, Youth leader, Pastor’s wife, counselor, preacher (when anointing came), teacher in church as well as public school, & Christian school. She worked in a hospital, a convalescent home, mattress factory, ran a motel, was a seamstress and upholsterer. She and James raised 4 loving children: Barbara Grimsley, Frederick Benton, Brenda Stacy, and Ruth Kinser. Martha prepared 3 homemade meals each day at the table with dessert. If there was no food she would pray, and food would show up at the door. James and Martha pastored churches in Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregan, New Mexico, and Kentucky. Most churches or homes they were in, they cleaned and remodeled by painting, laying carpet, upholstered pews, etc. Martha had numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. She was proceeded in death by her parents: Maurice and Elizabeth Gamboe, two brothers: Frederick and Clyde Gamboe. Two children: Brenda Stacy and Frederick Benton. Grandchildren: Anthony Wayne Stacy, Angela Dawn Stacy, Christa Sue Benton, Missy Benton, Charles Bruce Kettle, and Sammie Benton. Great grandchild: Justin James Kettle. 
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