Royce Jane Balch Martin

Royce Jane Balch Martin, age 88, went to be with her Lord and Savior on March 11, 2015. She is survived by her huband of 49 years, Robert "Bob" Martin; daughter, Roberta "Robyn" Taylor and her husband, Doug; son, Robert "Chip" Martin and his wife, Jaimie all of Albuquerque. She also had four precious grandchildren whom she adored, Aden and Avery Taylor and Connor and Riley Martin. She was preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Minnie Balch. Royce was born in Tucumcari, NM. She graduated from Albuquerque High School in 1945 and went onto attend Baylor University in Waco, TX where she majored in English and Business Administration. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Baylor in 1949. While teaching high school in Lordsburg, then in Albuquerque, she obtained a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of New Mexico in 1955. She received post-master's degree training from several prestigious universities around the country and eventually obtained her Ph.D in Education from the University of New Mexico in 1971, while raising two young children. She worked as an educator and professional counselor at various locations in the Albuquerque Public School system for over 40 years and was a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma international society for women educators. Royce met and married her husband, Bob in Albuquerque in 1965. Royce was a strong woman of faith and together with her husband could be found serving at church whenever there was a need or opportunity. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Albuquerque for over 60 years, and Del Norte Baptist Church for the past 11 years. She was an integral part of her church community ministering in countless ways including missions support, teaching Sunday School and as a board member of the New Mexico Baptist Children's Home. Friends may visit Tuesday, March 17, 2015, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at FRENCH - Wyoming. Funeral Service will be Wednesday, March 18, 2015, 10:00 a.m. at Del Norte Baptist Church, 5800 Montgomery Blvd NE. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park, 924 Menaul Blvd NE. In lieu of flowers to honor Royce's memory donations may be made to the New Mexico Baptist Children's Home, 2200 South Avenue I, Portales, NM 88130 or Del Norte Baptist Church, 5800 Montgomery Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109.