David Preston Martin

David Preston Martin

David Preston Martin, Sr. passed away peacefully on July 20th just shy of his 90th birthday. Born in Lynchburg, Va, in 1935 to Ned and Gladys Martin, he was the youngest of three boys.

As a youngster David loved sports, especially football. He played on championship teams at Hopewell High School as a 158 pound lineman, and his toughness and tenacity earned him a full scholarship to VMI. He continued his winning ways in Lexington punctuated by an undefeated season in 1957 when the Keydets captured the Southern Conference championship.

Following his graduation with a Civil Engineering degree in 1958 David eventually transitioned to the world of business, earning a MBA from the University of Richmond in 1984. David's professional career was spent primarily in the finance world as a broker/financial planner at Wheat First Securities, UBS and Ameriprise Financial. He loved his work, continuing to serve clients well into his 70s.

David is best described as a man of deep faith who always put commitment and service to others above self. His interests were varied but centered on the water, especially at the "Rivah" in Deltaville, where he enjoyed boating, fishing, crabbing and tinkering with his tools. But as anyone who knew David would share, his true love was family. And while being out on the Bay with a rod in his hand was fun, it never quite measured up to the quiet moments on the back stoop with his wife, Annie Mae; or the noisy dinner table with 12 kids at dusk; or the horseshoe contest with his family and neighbors in the backyard, or the conversations and competitive (often loud and filled with laughter) Tripoley games on the screen porch that lasted well in the night. When asked by others who his 'best friends' were, David quickly responded, "Oh that's easy. It's my family."

David was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Annie Mae Martin; his daughter, Amy Martin Padgett; his parents, Ned and Gladys Martin ; and his brother, Earl Martin. He is survived by his children David Martin, Jr. (Sandra), Lori Conk (Chip), Julia Carr (Bryan), Treva Thomas (Monte); his grandchildren Preston Martin (Christin), Dexter Martin (Meghan), Daniel Martin, Joseph LeCato, Winston Jobrack (Ben), Andrew Carr, Lauren Rosse (Shane), Eddie Conk, Isabelle Thomas and Ethan Thomas; his great-grandchildren Max, Dylan, Molly, Mila, Jack and Noah; Amy's husband, Doug Padgett; his brother, Ned Martin (Pat); and many other extended family members.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to his friend and caregiver David Wilson, and to the caring and capable nurses at Bristol Hospice who made him comfortable in his waning days.

A memorial service to celebrate David's life will be held on July 30, 10 AM at Central Baptist Church in Chesterfield VA. All who knew and loved David are invited to attend the service. A reception in the church fellowship hall will follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made either to the VMI Keydet Club, P.O. Box 932, Lexington, VA 24450 to support student scholarships (www.vmialumni.org/give), or to Central Baptist Church (https://onrealm.org/CentralBaptistC24166/-/form/give/now).

"Those we love don't go away; they walk beside us every day. Unseen, unheard, but always near; still loved, still missed, and very dear."