Richard Martin

Richard J. Martin

Memorial services for Richard J. Martin, 87, Walton, will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday in Calvary Presbyterian Church.

He died at 2:45 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, 2007, in St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis.

Born Dec. 31, 1919, in Cass County, he was the third child of James E. and Laura Jane Bechtol Martin. He was married Aug. 17, 1947, in Metea, to Helen E. Newburn, who preceded in death in 1985.

Richard was born on the farm where he lived all his life.

He continued the tradition of growing hybrid seeds that his father had started, and later became one of the founders of Migro Hybrids and eventually grew hybrid corn for almost 50 years. He retired as a farmer and seed producer.

After graduating from Young America High School, he attended Purdue University.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served in England during World War II. He farmed with his father after returning from the war.

Richard was a member of Calvary Presbyterian Church, Cass County Farm Bureau, and Walton American Legion Post #418.

He was active in his church and community. He served many years as Clerk of Session of Union Presbyterian Church, was on several committees of Wabash Presbyterian, and most recently, had been an active member and officer of Calvary Presbyterian Church.

He also was active in Farm Bureau and served for over 25 years on the board of the Farm Bureau Credit Union.

Richard was active in the efforts to consolidate township schools into school districts in the 1950s and early 1960s.

He participated in mission work trips to Romania, Ecuador, Kenya and Spain. More recently, he volunteered in the Thompson Elementary School, delivered Meals on Wheels, taught in Literacy Volunteers of America, typed translations for Wycliffe Bible Translators, was involved with Great Banquet, and said “Yes” over and over again when asked to do something.

Richard was a recipient of the Pharos-Tribune “Good Neighbors” award in 1996.

He wrote letters to his senators, representatives, President and newspapers when he saw an issue that he felt needed to be addressed. He firmly believed that he could help to make this a better world, and every day he did something to further that goal.

He wanted to live in such a way that others would be drawn to Jesus Christ.

Surviving are daughters, Diane Martin, Waxhaw, N.C., and Jane Martin and her husband, Dick Weisiger, San Rafael, Calif.; sons, Stan Martin and his wife, Kellie, Boston, Mass., and Phil Martin and his wife, Paula, Williamsburg, Iowa; one sister, Betty McKaig, Logansport; one brother, Hobart Martin and his wife, Dee, Fort Myers, Fla.; and nine grandchildren.

One brother, Robert Martin, preceded in death.

The Rev. Doug Mankell will officiate at the services. Burial will be in Hoover Snyder Cemetery, Young America.

Friends may call from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday in Gundrum Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Wycliffe Bible Translators, P.O. Box 628200, Orlando FL 32862-8200, and to the OMS International, P.O. Box 1648, Monument CO 80132-1648.

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