Joseph Martin

JOSEPH MARTIN

HUNTINGTON — Joseph Samuel "Joe" Martin died unexpectedly Sun., Feb. 8, 2015, in Huntington, W.Va., at the age of 39.

Joe is survived by his mother, Jean Ann Levinson and father David Levinson of Moore, S.C.; and his sister, Jan Levinson Hebbard of Athens, Ga.

He is preceded in death by his father, Ralph Martin of Logan, W.Va.

Joe was born on a snowy day, Feb. 9, 1975, in Huntington. He had the soul of a gambler and spent his life making friends across the country, especially in his favorite adopted hometowns of Las Vegas, Nev., and Biloxi, Miss. He served in the U.S. Army, and spent time as an Army recruiter, waiter and car salesman.

He was well read, willing to give anything a chance but tending to favor crime novels, political thrillers, or westerns from Mario Puzo, Tom Clancy, and Larry McMurtry. True to his Italian roots, he loved hard meats and cheeses and the traditional Italian cookies his grandma Martin used to mail him each year at Christmas. He dressed sharply in fitted slacks and polo shirts, but branched out regularly in a signature ball cap and hoodie in support of his favorite teams, the Carolina Gamecocks and Pittsburgh Steelers. His family will long remember his outlandish tales, recalling nights of humor and debauchery while drinking with friends from the service, courting ladies, or remembering a hot streak on the tables at the casino.

Joe's ashes were laid to rest at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Pecks Mill, W.Va., alongside generations of family members. There are no plans for a memorial service at this time.

Information supplied by family.