Ronnie Lee Martin

Mr. Ronnie Lee “Ron” Martin was born to Ida Mae Boyd and Johnas C. Martin on November 6, 1959, in Panama City, Florida.

Ronnie graduated from A. Crawford Mosley High School in Panama City Florida and joined the United States Army after graduation. Ronnie dedicated his life to service – both to his country and to those around him. A proud veteran, Ronnie began his military career at Fort Ord in California and was a part of the Foxtrot Battalion, where also attended Monterey Peninsula College.

Ronnie built a career in the federal government, working as a travel technician with the Department of Defense Accounting Services (DFAS). Ronnie later retired from the Department of Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital, after 40 years of service.

Through his service in the Army, Ronnie was able to travel around the world, from Germany, where his daughter Jasmin was born, back to many states in the United States, some including Georgia and California. Ronnie met his lifetime partner, Shella Vaughn, during his second tour at Fort Ord. During their union, Ronnie and Shella were blessed with three sons; John, Marcus, and Jeremy.

Ronnie would share stories of his travel and sense of adventure with his friends and family, focusing on the lessons he learned and the people he met along the way. Ronnie had a remarkable gift for making friends wherever he went, and he never met a stranger, often referring to them as family. His warmth, kindness and humor left a lasting impression on all who knew him.

No matter where life took him, Ronnie’s roots were always in Panama City, Florida. Ronnie frequently spoke of his love of Florida beaches and the memories he had there from his childhood and his young adult life. His friends and family would often see him wearing Florida hats and shirts and hear him cheering for his Florida teams, the Florida Gators, Florida State University and the Miami Heat. Following his Indiana services, Ronnie will return home to his dear state of Florida.

He leaves behind to cherish his loving memory; his wife, Shella, his brother, Jerome (Gloria), his sisters, Annie Lois, Doris, and Angela, his 5 children, Jason, Jasmin (Marques), John, Marcus (Kolena) and Jeremy (Summer); his 12 grandchildren, JhiCurria, Ashanti, Adrian, Jozlynn, Alissa, Malik, Martevion, Makoyia, Silas, Chiara, Amelia, and Evelyn and countless friends and loved ones.

In addition to his children, Ronnie opened his heart to many others who he treated as his own, including Angelo and Tashawn and their children, Markell, Dallas, Aria, Imani, Jalin, Tameisa, Chaan, and Skylar.

Ronnie was affectionately known as “Papa Ronnie,” and his youngest grandchildren called him “Pepperoni.”

Ronnie was preceded in death by his parents, Ida Mae Franklin and Johnas Cezar Martin, as well as his siblings James Boyd and Cynthia Boyd.

Ronnie’s legacy of love, laughter and friendship will live on in the hearts of those he touched. Until we meet again and as he would say, “One Love.”