William Martin Sr.

MARTIN, Mr. William Raymond Sr., of Martinsville, Va., passed away on Friday, April 16, 2010 at Martinsville Memorial Hospital at the age of 90. He was born November 13, 1919 in Franklin County, Va. He is a graduate of National Business College in Roanoke, Va. He began his career as an accountant for The Martinsville Bulletin and later became the publisher. He retired after 40 years at the newspaper in 1989. From 1989 until the present, he was the vice-president of Blue Ridge Aquaculture in Martinsville, Va. Mr. Martin is survived by his wife of 64 years, Betty Josephine Philpott Martin; his sister, Mrs. Louise Martin Lewis of Martinsville, Va.; his seven children, Mr. and Mrs. George H. Harris Jr. (daughter, Betty Louise Martin Harris) of Martinsville, Va., Mr. and Mrs. William R. Martin Jr. (son, Bill Martin) of Martinsville, Va., Ms. Lelia Wood-Smith (daughter, Lelia Wood-Smith) of Greenwich, Conn., Mr. and Mrs. Frank M. Lacy Jr. (daughter, Suzanne Martin Lacy) of Axton, Va., Mr. and Mrs. James B. Lee (daughter, Charlene Martin Lee) of Richmond, Va., Mr. and Mrs. Steven A. Middleton (daughter, Mary Martin Middleton) of Richmond, Va., Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Long Jr. (daughter, Barbara Jean Martin Long) of Virginia Beach, Va.; his 19 grandchildren, Mr. and Mrs. George H. Harris III, Ms. E. Haskell Harris, Mr. and Mrs. Murray M. Bibb, Ms. Sarah Katherine M. Dietz, Ms. Gina M. Manley, Ms. Christina Wood-Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Wood-Smith, Mr. Phillip R. Wood-Smith, Mr. and Mrs. E. Slate Lacy, Mr. Brent M. Lacy, Mr. and Mrs. Denis R. Wane, Mr. and Mrs. Christopher L. Graff, Mr. William Middleton, Mr. Samuel Middleton, Ms. Stephanie Middleton, Mr. Jack Middleton, Mr. Robert C. Long III, Ms. Barbara L. Long, Ms. M. Josephine Long; and five great-grandchildren. Preceding him in death were his father, Jesse Booker Martin Sr.; his mother, Lelia Christine Paisley Martin Divers of Roanoke; and two brothers, Jesse Booker Martin of Roanoke and Claude Davis Martin of Oxnard, Calif. During World War II, Martin served as a member of the 509th Composite Group that worked on the Manhattan Project, which created the atomic bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima, Japan and Nagasaki, Japan in 1945. Martin served on the board of Memorial Hospital in Martinsville from 1965 to 1997, was the chairman of the first board of the Mental Health Association, served on the board when the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce was formed, and served on the board of Post 1, Travelers Protective Association and on the Session of Forest Hills Presbyterian Church. Willie, as he was known by friends, loved being with his family and traveling around the world. He touched the lives of many people with his smile and generosity and "recorded" many memories with his ever-present camera. Throughout his life, he maintained his trademark handshake, as well as his sense of humor. Visitation will take place Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the home of Mr. and Mrs. George H. Harris at 1309 Mulberry Road, Martinsville, Va. 24112. The funeral will take place Sunday, April 18, at 2 p.m. at Forest Hills Presbyterian Church in Martinsville, Va. Burial will follow at Roselawn Cemetery in Martinsville, Va. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Forest Hills Presbyterian Church, at 725 Beechnut Lane, Martinsville, Va. 24112. Arrangements are by Collins-McKee-Stone Funeral Homes, Martinsville Chapel.


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.