Upton Scott "Jake" Martin Jr.

MARTIN, Upton Scott Jr. "Jake," 102, died peacefully Tuesday evening September 15, 2009. The only child of U.S. Martin and Clara Bell Seaber Martin, he was born in Shepherdstown, W.Va. on September 19, 1906. In 1925, he graduated from Shepherd College (now Shepherd University), where he met his wife of 75 years, Marian Hirst Martin, who preceded him in death in December 2004. He is survived by a daughter, Hirst M. Rush "Jo" and her husband, Robert, of Virginia Beach; son, John A. Martin, his wife, Pamela, of Fountain Valley, Calif.; daughter, Lelia C. Frame "Bess" and her husband, Melvin, of Hanover County; and son, Upton S. Martin III "Charlie" and his wife, Ann, of Ashland; grandchildren include Kim R. Daily, Stuart Rush, Barbara Lynn Rush, Paul Martin, Janice M. Hoover, Chris Conklin, Stephanie Martin and Amy M. Ewing; seven great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. He and his family came to Richmond in 1938. In 1942, he joined the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Va. as a bank examiner, rising to the position of senior vice-president. Involved in many civic organizations until retirement, he held positions of leadership with the Richmond Kiwanis Club, United Givers Fund, Maymont Foundation, Robert E. Lee Council of Boy Scouts of America and the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church. He was a member of several professional organizations and also served on the board of Virginia State University. Following retirement in 1971, he and his wife traveled the world extensively learning and appreciating the cultural and environmental differences of the countries they visited. He was an active and faithful member of Barton Heights and Chamberlayne Heights United Methodist Churches. He and his wife owned a farm in Hanover County which was used in the summer, not only for growing wheat, soy beans, corn, etc., but for providing a place for a church day camp attended by children and adults for more than 40 years. In addition, the farm has been available to boy scouts, youth groups, the Bethlehem Center, and as a place to hold church picnics. Upton, prior to his passing, wished to say, "Thanks Richmond. We loved your town and your people!" The family will receive friends at Bliley's- Central, 3801 Augusta Ave., on Friday evening, September 18, from 6 to 8. A memorial service will be held at Chamberlayne Heights United Methodist Church on Saturday, September 19, at 11 a.m. A reception will follow in the church social hall. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to Chamberlayne Heights United Methodist Church, The Hermitage or the Richmond Nativity Pageant.
This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.