Glenn H. Martin

Glenn High Martin was born February 11, 1938 to Aaron and Anna (High) Martin of Lancaster, PA. He died at age 86 on December 31, 2024 and was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Kenneth and Aaron Martin, and sister Doris Frick. His youngest brother Leon survives. At age 11, Glenn accepted Christ as his Savior, was baptized and joined the Mennonite Church. After graduating from Warwick Township High School in 1956, he worked for his father on the family farm for several years.
In 1960, as a conscientious objector, Glenn joined 1-W Alternative Service rather than participate in the military. He served at a hospital in Washington D.C. where he trained and worked as a respiratory therapist. While in D.C., he met his true love Carolyn Gerber who was in nursing clinical training in a nearby hospital. They married in April 1962 in Carolyn's home area of Orrville, Ohio. As newlyweds, they moved to Baltimore, MD where Glenn worked as Chief Respiratory Therapist at Union Memorial Hospital. He was instrumental in growing the hospital respiratory department to a staff of 12 who provided 24 hour/7 day a week care. He continued his respiratory therapy career for a total of 40 years at hospitals in Salisbury, MD and later in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Glenn also served on the National Board of Directors as well as on various national and local committees for the American Association for Inhalation Therapy.
Glenn had a strong interest in the Bible and spirituality, completing many correspondence courses as well as attending the nearby York Bible Institute. In 1975 and at age 37, Glenn was called from within his congregation to become a church minister at Stony Brook Mennonite Church in York, PA. This started his journey as an ordained pastor that continued for 33 years across four congregations. Along with Stony Brook, he also served as minister at Salem Mennonite, Mt. Gilead Mennonite and Trenton Mennonite, all in Ohio. For many years, he worked at being both a pastor and a respiratory therapist while also having a busy family life with his wife and three daughters. Faith in God, attending church, hard work, frugality and education were all important to Glenn. He encouraged all three of his daughters to continue their education beyond high school.
Glenn loved to drive, so he and Carolyn traveled to many places in the U.S. and visited new places, extended family and Mennonite Church conferences. His goal was to make it to all 50 states and he almost got there, missing out only on Hawaii! Glenn was very outgoing with quite a humorous side. He could talk to just about anyone and always had a joke ready. He also loved numbers and enjoyed finding different types of numbers in the Bible for his sermons.
Upon his retirement in 2006, he and Carolyn moved back to Apple Creek living across the field from their middle daughter. Glenn joined Smithville Mennonite Church, volunteered on the board of directors for the Hospice of Wayne County, visited people and filled in for vacationing area pastors during his retirement. In 2011, he suffered a stroke which diminished his eyesight and started the long progression of vascular dementia. His wife Carolyn has faithfully stood by him and lovingly cared for him throughout his life. In July 2020, Glenn and Carolyn moved to Maple Terrace Assisted Living at Orrvilla where they have received amazing care and support from a kind and loving staff. In addition, Carolyn and the family are grateful to the hospice team who provided wonderful care for Glenn in the last year of his life.
Glenn is survived by his beloved wife Carolyn with whom he was married 62 years, daughters Teresa of Harrisonburg, VA, Deb (John) Weaver of Apple Creek, OH and Carmela (Kevin) Rosner of Indianapolis, IN as well as five grandchildren, Jenna (Preston) Wendt, Mandi (Josh) Kapper, Rosa (Wade) Cleaver, Isaiah and Jonah Rosner and seven great-grandchildren.
A viewing will be held at Smithville Mennonite Church on Tuesday, January 7, 2025 from 5-7 p.m. A graveside service will be held on Wed, January 8, 2025 at 10 am at Martin's Mennonite Cemetery with a memorial service following at 11 am at Smithville Mennonite Church. Spidell Funeral Home in Mount Eaton is handling the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Glenn's memory to Orrvilla Retirement Community (Vision 2027 project) or to Mennonite Central Committee.