Wilma Martindale

Wilma Ables Martindale, 88, of Salinas, passed away peacefully at her home on Wednesday, January 27, 2016 surrounded by her loving family. She was born on May 31, 1927 in Brawley, CA to Otto Francis and Lena Mae Ables. The Ables moved to Salinas in 1932 where Wilma attended school graduating in 1945 from Salinas High School. In 1946 she married Roland Schmeeckle and they raised their two children in Salinas while being owners of Salinas Body Shop. In later years, Wilma had several different jobs finally retiring in 1978. In 1974 she married Richard Martindale and was by his side until his death in 2014. As a young girl, Wilma belonged to the International Order of the Rainbow Girls, a masonic youth organization. In her adult life, Wilma was an avid bowler, teaching Junior Bowling in Salinas. During the last two years of her life, she brought joy to her daughter’s bowling team, attending their weekly sessions offering a “thumbs up” when their form met her standards. Wilma loved people and her smile was wide and her eyes would twinkle when her children and their many friends were in the house. She will be missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her. Wilma was preceded in death by her children’s father, Roland Schmeeckle, her husband, Richard Martindale, her parents Otto and Lena Ables and her sister, Shirley Hartin. Wilma is survived by her children, Jeanne Schmeeckle Dahl (Craig) and David Schmeeckle (Kim), her brother, John Ables, her grandchildren, Rod Jackson, Jonny Schmeeckle and Matt Schmeeckle, great-grandchildren, Cole, Madison and Peyton Jackson, Sebastian and Mason Schmeeckle and several nephews and a niece. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Central Coast VNA Hospice or St. George’s Episcopal Church in Salinas. The family would also like to thank the caregivers assigned to Wilma during her last few months for their kindness and compassion. Funeral services will be conducted on Tuesday, February 9, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at St. George’s Episcopal Church, 98 Kip Dr., Salinas, CA. Reception to immediately follow.