At the beginning of All My Children history, Ruth was married to abusive Ted Brent, living with her adopted son Philip (the son of Ruth's sister Amy Tyler and Nick Davis). When Ted was killed in an auto accident, she turned to Dr. Joe Martin, and the two married in 1972. Joe’s son Jeff and his wife Mary would have adopted Tad Gardner, but when Mary was killed by intruders, Joe and Ruth stepped in and adopted the boy. Tad’s father, Ray Gardner, tried to sell Tad to them for $10,000, and when they refused, he raped Ruth. Gardner was sent to prison, but escaped and returned to Pine Valley bent on Martin destruction. He planted a bomb in their home, but tried to take it out when he thought that his daughter Jenny, Tad’s sister, was inside. The bomb went off, killing the evil Ray.

In 1976, Ruth even went so far as to leave Joe, because he disapproved of her son Phillip Brent's pursuit of his daughter, Tara, but the marriage survived that, Ruth’s adultery with David Thornton, and Joe’s attraction to an abused patient, Leora. Much to the surprise and delight of everyone, Ruth and Joe had a baby of their own, Joseph Jr. (aka Jake) on Christmas Day, 1979.,

The marriage nearly came to an end when Joe suffered a serious heart attack in July of 1997, following an argument with Dimitri Marick. Joe tried to hide the seriousness of the event from Ruth, but she eventually found out the truth and nursed her beloved Joe back to health.

Joe and Ruth and the Martin home remain the hub of activities in Pine Valley, the place and persons to whom anyone in need can turn.