Helen G. Martinez of Lompoc passed away Thursday, March 29, 2007 in Santa Barbara. She was 81 years of age.

Helen was born to Jesus and Pasquala Gutierrez on February 25, 1926 in Compton, California. She came to Lompoc from Los Angeles in 1939.

A lifelong homemaker, Helen loved to travel and spend time with her grandchildren. She was a member of La Purisima Catholic Church and the Half Century Club in Lompoc.

Helen is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Mary Lou Martinez of Lompoc; daughter and son-in-law, Patricia and Mike Elszy of Lompoc; son, Daniel Pereyra of Lompoc; sister and brother-in-law, Eleanor and Joe Montoya of Lompoc; brother and sister-in-law, David and Tillie Gutierrez of Lompoc; four grandchildren, Joe Martinez, James Martinez, Dionne Ruiz and Matthew Elszy; and eight great grandchildren, Arianna, Mario, Ian, Tara, Jimmy, Alex, Yvette, and Jillian, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of 46 years, Joe Martinez in 1994.

The visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 3, at the Starbuck-Lind Mortuary. The recitation of the holy rosary will be Tuesday at 7 p.m. at La Purisima Catholic Church. Father Tom Cook will celebrate the mass of Christian burial on Wednesday, April 4, at 12 noon at La Purisima Catholic Church. Interment will follow in the Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the La Purisima School, 219 West Olive Avenue, Lompoc, CA 93436.