I am hoping that someone can help me with an obituary look up for Rueben Martin, born around 1917 in Windsor, Colorado and died 6 Jan 1984 in Toppenish, Washington.

His wife's name was Lydia and his parents were Anna and George. I have a photo of Rueben, Lydia, my mom and two girls who my mom believes are his daughters, but we don't know the girls' names.

Thanks!

Hi,
There are a couple of Yakima Co. obituary volunteers at Random Acts Genealogical Kindness. Go to raogk.org
Choose Washington
Click on P thru Z
Scroll down to Yakima Co. and choose ONE volunteer.
Successful Searching!

The Washington Death Index:
Reuben Martin, born about 1917, died 6 Jan 1984 in Toppenish, he was a resident of Yakima. His SSN was 540-09-6838.

The Social Security Death Index:
Reuben Martin, born 28 Sep 1916, died Jan 1984, his "last residence" was in Toppenish, WA. The "last residence" on the SSDI is NOT necessarily where a person lived. It is known by the Social Security Administration as the "home of record." His SSN, 540-09-6838, was issued in Oregon before 1951.

Public Records database shows he had lived at RR (Rural Route) 1, and RR 3 box 3583, Toppenish.

There were newspapers in Toppenish:
http://cals.evergreen.edu/search~S8/?searchscope=8&SORT=...
But, it appears none were published in the year of his death, so his obit is likely to be in Yakima in the Yakima Herald-Republic. That newspaper does have obits online, but not to 1984.

He and Lydia are buried in the Zillah Cemetery. Lydia, born 18 Aug 1917, died 20 Oct 2001, married 25 Nov 1939.
http://wagenweb.org/yakima/cemetery/zillah/zillahk-m.txt
The person transcribing, Jeri Herbert, "might" know where cemetery records are kept, or ability to contact the funeral home handling the services. It would be easier to find the funeral home for Lydia. The cemetery or funeral home's records might identify family names, some keep copies of the death certificate or burial permits.

At this point I found your family tree. I had looked for it with the spelling of "Reuben" He was listed as Rueben. When you post an inquiry, it helps a volunteer to see the big picture, a link to your tree helps not only the volunteer, but also any other person happening to find your inquiry that might know the family. http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/5332410/person/181222688?ssrc=

For the obits or public records (courthouse), the Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness has volunteers. You might ask one of the persons doing public records and obits (library research) to check the City Directories (Polks) to see any other Martin named person(s) were living at the same residence as Rueben and Lydia. Spouses are listed with husbands names, and also individually if employed, children can sometimes be also found under a separate listing with employment type, sometimes as "student."
http://www.raogk.org/washingt4.htm READ the guidelines FIRST.

Also for an obit:
The Washington State Library has a free research service, the ask-a-librarian program, where they will look for information in the archives, in this case the newspaper microfilm for an event. They will look up to an hour and send you the results. For an obituary: http://www.sos.wa.gov/library/Obituaries.aspx
Due to staff cuts, economy, mass requests, they are now taking up to six weeks.

Ron Bestrom
Tacoma, WA

Thanks to both of you for your suggestions!