Carl J Martin, Jr.

Carl Martin Jr, 97, of Richmond, IN passed away on December 28, 2023 at Ambassador healthcare in Centerville, IN. Carl was born on December 20, 1926 on the family farm in Greens Fork, IN to Carl J. and Jessie Ellen Mull Martin. You would often hear him say “I was the tenth child of 14”.

He graduated from Centerville High School in 1945 and entered in the Army on May 23, 1945 during WWII. He made two trips to Japan by ship transporting troops to and from the states. After he was discharged from the Army he worked at Wayne Works in Richmond. After being laid off a second time he entered Indiana Business College. He met his future wife, Dora E. Ulerick Martin, during this time. She lived across the road from his brother’s (Lawrence’s) home. He agreed to meet her after his sister-in-law (Betty) called him “Chicken”. They were married on May 20, 1951 and that marriage lasted over 72 ½ years.

They were blessed with 3 sons and a daughter. After college he worked a short time at McClellans Dime Store until he got a job with Coca-Cola as a driver. Two years later he became a Fuller Brush salesman moving to Portland, IN. Then on October 20, 1956 after moving back to Hagerstown, IN he became a substitute clerk carrier at the Hagerstown Post Office. He then became a full time city carrier for the next 12 years, in July 1970 he transferred to a rural route mail carrier and delivered to everyone on RR 2 Hagerstown. He retired in 1988, but never stopped working. He was an avid gardener and kept his yard immaculate. He continued mowing his own yard until he was 93. He participated in his first Relay-for-Life as a survivor in 1996. The next year he and Dora joined the planning committee and continued to volunteer for another 22 years. Every year Carl went door-to-door collecting money for the relay until he was 87. He donated blood for as long as he was able, surpassing the 6 gallon club.

He loved watching and coaching from his chair IU basketball, Cincinnati Reds baseball and the Colts football teams. In the last year his daughter was working to convert him to PU basketball and had made some progress. He loved helping anyone in need and when he was able he would clean out several of his neighbors drive of snow while they were at work. He loved his family, was a great provider and no matter what he did he gave it his all.

Carl is survived by his loving wife, Dora; children, Richard (Sandy Ogden) Martin, Roger (Sharon Caudle) Martin, Donna Wright and Donald Martin; grandchildren, Jared Martin (Bethany), Katie Sickmann (Adam), Caleb Martin (Mariah), Jessi Martin, Elric Wright, Shana Wright Martin and Shannon Wright; 12 great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents; 9 brothers, James Ellis, Clyde, Lyman, Lawrence, Howard, Guy (Dude), Kermit, Lynn and Paul Martin; 4 sisters Mabel Spraker, Mary Kaucher, Sarah Brown, and Mildred (Susie) Martin. Daughter-in-law, Sandy Bond Martin and son-in-law, H. Curt Wright.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Richmond, Zion’s Lutheran Church of Pershing or American Cancer Society.

Friends may call from 5 to 7 PM on Tuesday, January 2, 2024 and from 10:30 AM until the start of the funeral at 11 AM on Wednesday, January 3, 2024 at Waskom Capitol Hill Chapel in Cambridge City and interment will follow at Zions Lutheran Cemetery in Pershing.

Online condolences may be made at www.waskoms.com

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