Obituary of Benjamin Wesley Martin

Benjamin Wesley Martin, 96, passed away December 4, 2018 in Olympia, Washington.  He was born March 23, 1922 to Gottfried and Katherine (Lind) Martin in Kansas City, Missouri. Over the years, he lived in Salem, Oregon (1985-2011), Barstow, California (1949-1985); Kansas City, Merriam and Olathe, Kansas (1922-1949).

 

Ben graduated from Shawnee-Mission Rural High School in Kansas in 1940. He served in the U.S. Army from August 24, 1942 to September 27, 1945, retiring as a Staff Sergeant. He was stationed in Southern California, Oklahoma, Texas and Georgia.

 

He married Doris Arlene Billing on October 18, 1943 in Shawnee after a long-distance courtship.  He proposed to her by mail and she accepted his proposal in a letter he kept all his life.

 

Professionally, Ben worked for the Barstow Union High School Transportation Department from 1949 to 1982 as a mechanic, school bus driver, and maintenance supervisor.  He was a member of the First Congregational Church in Barstow, and sang in the choir.

 

Ben was a stamp collector all his life.  He loved camping, fishing, and chukar hunting with family and friends, and enjoyed golfing and bowling when he retired.  He was a prolific reader and writer; he especially loved letters, sending and receiving them. He also loved to read, write and recite poetry and sing.  He had detailed knowledge and was blessed with a good memory up to his death.

 

Ben is survived by his sons, Wesley Martin and wife Lesley of Jerome, Idaho, Charles Martin of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Dwight Martin of Barstow; daughters, Susan Robbennolt of Billings, Montana, and Cynthia Griego and husband Robert of Olympia; seven grandchildren; and seven great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his loving wife Doris, his parents, Gottfried Martin Jr. and Mary Katherine Martin; brothers, Gottfried Martin III, Carl Frederick Martin, Albert August Martin, Richard Arnold Martin; sisters, Mary Elizabeth Schuhle, Elfreida Juliana Lowry, Betty May Atwood, Martha Maxine Coberly, and Jeanette Joan Burke.

 

Services will be held at a later date.  Burial will be at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon.

 

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