Walter A. Martin
Walter A. Martin died Friday, Dec. 7, 2007
at Ridgecrest Healthcare Center. He was 92.
Funeral services were held Dec. 10 at the
Trona Foursquare Church. Pastor Mel Wilson
officiated.
Walter was born Jan. 10, 1915, in Joplin,
Mo. He came to the high desert in 1937 when
he helped build the tungsten mill at Atolia,
Calif.
In 1940, Walter found work at the
American Potash and Chemical Company in
Trona and moved his wife Annabelle and their
one-year old son Larry to Crumville (now
Ridgecrest). Walter worked at the Trona plant
until his retirement on Feb. 1, 1980. When
World War II began for the United States in
December 1941, Walter took steps to join the
service. Although he passed his physical,
American Potash wanted to keep him at the
plant and arranged for him to be classified 2A.
Over the years, Walter lived in Crumville,
Poison Canyon, Trona, Onyx, Lake Isabella
and for the past 11 years in Ridgecrest.
In the early 1950s, he was on the
bargaining committee for the International
Union of Mine and Mill Workers (CIO). Walter
served on the Searles Lake Federal Credit
Union board of directors for 35 years from
1954 to November 1989. Over the years, he
owned and operated various used car lots in
Trona.
Family was always important to Walter. In
1999 he and Annabelle celebrated their 60th
wedding anniversary surrounded by his four
sons, their wives and numerous
grandchildren.
Walter is survived by his wife Annabelle of Ridgecrest, sons Larry of Ridgecrest, Wallace of Portland, Ore., Walter of Cookeville, Tenn., and Jim of Ridgecrest; four daughters-in-law; and 42 grandchildren,
great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Flowers are acceptable but donations may be sent to Searles Valley Cemetery Association,
P.O. Box 171, Trona, CA 93592.

Arrangements were provided by Holland & Lyons Mortuary.

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Walter A. Martin
December 12, 2007

NOTE: Mostly correct I guess, EXCEPT, Walter was born in Cave Springs, Mo., at the Martin home bordering the Missouri and Kansas state lines.

Steve Turner 2025

November 2 at 10:08 AM ·

This is a rare c. 1910 real photo postcard (rppc) for Atolia, California. Atolia, California which is now a ghost town. It once was one of the world's most important tungsten mining locations. It was located in the northwestern part of San Bernardino County near the border of Kern County and the town of Randsburg. Tungsten deposits were discovered in the area around 1904, and the Atolia Mining Company was established in 1905. The town's name is a contraction of the names of two of the pioneer operators, Atkins and DeGolia. This rppc is part of my collection of vintage Southern California ephemera and photography which encompasses all aspects of the region's development with strong focus on architecture, real estate, mining, transportation and culture. The Mojave Desert region is very well represented and is a strong interest. More examples may be seen on my Instagram page @steveturnerantiquarian