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A Part of Oklahoma History Martin Ruby Colbert

1904-1995

Birth-Childhood:

Born in Indian Territory before statehood, a Choctaw Freedman to James and Laura (Breedlove) Colbert, on November 24, 1904; Martin was the third of five sons.

The family moved to Idabel, Oklahoma where the boys grew up. At age ten, Martin was involved in an accident which took his left leg. Martin told his children that his leg was cut off, using whiskey as an antiseptic. He only had an eighth grade education, but he became a teacher for a year. He considered mathematics his forte.

Marriage-Family:

On May 5, 1930, Martin Ruby and Ruthie Mae Green were united in marriage. From this union came eight children: Sylvester and Delores were born in Idabel Oklahoma. Then the family moved to the historically black settlement of Rentie Grove, Oklahoma to be near his brother, Jeppe Sr. There his daughter, Hazel was born. Martin was baptized at the historical Rentie Grove Baptist Church. The family moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma and the other five children were born. Gladys, Emma, Jewellene, Lorene, and Shirley.. The family joined Holsey Chapel CME Church. Martin was one of the early members of Holsey Chapel when the services were held in an old barn on North Peoria. He remained an active member until his health began to fail. Martin was an avid fisherman. He fished with his children and grandchildren, friends and neighbors. At a moment's notice he would sometimes leave home to fish at 2:00 a.m. and make it to work by 8:00 a.m. He would never fish on Sundays.

Employment:

Martin worked at Spartan Aeronautics, and Mann Brothers Grocery Store. In 1942, Martin began his work at Mann Brothers Grocery Store, a prominent part of North Tulsa history in the forties and fifties. He was a popular employee and was liked by everyone because of his gift of gab and sincere concern for everyone. Although he was considered disabled with only one leg, he never let that stand in the way of him doing any thing he wanted to do. He retired in 1965 from Mann Brothers Grocery Store, then he took a part-time job at Al Superette and Dawson Laundry.

Survivors:

Neighbors and friends will remember him as a kindhearted person, who never met a stranger. He always sat on the porch and waved hello to everyone who passed by.

Martin was preceded in death by his wife, Ruthie; daughters, Delores and Shirley. He is survived by: one son, Sylvester; five daughters, Hazel Colbert Wallace, Gladys Colbert Chatman, Emma Colbert Fenceroy, Jewellene Colbert, and Lorene Colbert Brown; 24 grandchildren; 53 great-grandchildren; and 6 great-great-grandchildren; one brother; a host of nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends will miss his words of encouragement, his leadership and his sense of humor.