David Martin

David Louis Martin

SALISBURY - The Rev. David Louis Martin, of Salisbury, died Sunday, March 23, 2014, at his home. He was 72.

Rev. Martin was born June 21, 1941, in Danville, Pa., the son of the late Rev. Dr. Richard Byers Martin and Larue Wetzel Martin.

Rev. Martin received his Bachelor of Arts degree in literature from Elizabethtown College in Elizabethtown, Pa. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg in Gettysburg, Pa., and completed his Clinical Pastoral Education from North Carolina Memorial Hospital in Chapel Hill. He subsequently received his Master of Theology degree in Pastoral Care from Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Va.

He served as Pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Goldsboro, from 1968-71. He served as Administrative Assistant to the President/Bishop of the North Carolina Lutheran Synod and Secretary of Synod, 1972-82, where his work included Pastoral Care to Families of Pastors and Lay Professional Leaders, Historical Work, Candidacy, Continuing Education for Leaders, Campus Ministry, and Synod Archival work in Salisbury. In 1982 he became Associate Director for Leadership Support of the Division for Professional Leadership of The Lutheran Church in America in Philadelphia, Pa., where he was responsible for Leadership Resources. He served as Pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Durham, 1984-91, and St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Asheville, 1991-2003.

Rev. Martin retired in 2003 and moved to Salisbury. His interests and activities after retirement included stained glass, music, art and regional history.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 40 years, Debbie Martin; daughters Adrienne Martin, attending Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Pa., Suzanna Martin and husband Chris Bailey of Dallas, Texas; brother Dr. Richard Hugo Martin and wife Beverly of Brevard.

Visitation: The family will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. Friday (March 28) at Summersett Funeral Home.

Service: Funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday (March 29) at St. John's Lutheran Church with the Rev. Dr. Leonard H. Bolick, Bishop of the NC Synod, and the Rev. Rhodes Woolly, minister, officiating.

Graveside: A graveside service will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday (March 29) at Holy Communion Lutheran Church Cemetery, Dallas, N.C.

Memorials: May be made to St. John's Lutheran Church, G2G Building Fund, 200 W. Innes St., Salisbury, NC 28144.

Summersett Funeral Home is assisting the Martin family. Online condolences may be made at www.summersettfuneralhome.com