86 La Verne
OBITUARIES
Martha (Marty) Jo
Stoddard
Martha (Marty) Jo Stoddard, a resident of La Verne for more than 60 years died on April 22nd at the age of 86 at Mt. San Antonio Gardens.
She was born on September 18, 1939 to Clyde and Mabel Lowe in Bushnell Illinois.
She was extremely active in high school activities, including becoming the homecoming queen her senior year and playing the drum in the school band. She met Phillip Stoddard in Bushnell and they married in 1958.
She worked as a hairdresser in Macomb while Phil was completing his college degree at W.I.U. Over the next four years they had three children Dane, Michelle and Traci. Phil’s career took them to Ohio where she would frequently load up all 3 infants and drive to Bushnell to be closer to family while he travelled.
In 1964 they relocated to California and bought their first new home in La Verne California where they raised their family. Martha became actively involved with the Red Cross as her children got older, eventually becoming the first woman Chairman of the Board of the Pomona chapter. Through that association, she met someone that would set her career in motion. Pomona Motor Parts was looking for someone to do data entry for the new computer they were getting in the late 70s. After successfully completing that job, she was asked to join the computer company, Triad and over the next decade rose up through the ranks to become the Western Area Sales Manager, another first as a woman in a bourgeoning technology field. Volunteering was something that she did throughout her life. She worked with various organizations, including helping build houses with Habitat for Humanity and was a member of the Casa Colina Auxiliary.
Phil and Marty enjoyed camping and traveling throughout the U.S. After Phil's passing in 1992, she expanded her travels throughout the world, enjoying many adventures, especially with her brother Al and sister-in law Nancy. In the time since her passing, friends and family have been comforted with special memories such as her welcoming and generous spirit, poolside fun for generations, holidays gatherings - always at her home, and the annual school clothes shopping sprees with her grandchildren whom she loved deeply.
Martha was preceded in death by her husband, Phil, her mother and father, her brothers Bobby, Roger, Leon, her sister Louise, and sister-in-law Nancy. She leaves behind her brother Al, her three children, Dane (Amy) Stoddard, Michelle Stoddard and Traci (Dave) Wesolik, six grandchildren, Shelbi (Jeffery) Moore, Paige Dean, Phillip Stoddard, Kiley (Jason) Nichols, Bob Stoddard and Maddie Stoddard and five great grandchildren, Wyatt Nichols, Colton Nichols, Beau Moore, Emerson Nichols and Forrest Nichols.
Giving back was very important to our mom, in lieu of flowers the family asks that you consider donating to your favorite charity or donating some time to a worthy cause. A celebration of life will be held on June 13, 2026 in Claremont California.
