William D.R. Martin

VERONA BEACH- William D. R. Martin, 74, Lakeshore Road South, died Sunday, October 19, 2025. Born in Syracuse, on August 5, 1951, he was the son of D. Stanley Roberts and Betty Ann Traut Holmes. A resident of Verona Beach for the past five years, Willie resided for many years in northern New Jersey. He was a graduate of Oneida High School, Class of 1968 and Mohawk Valley Community College. He married Tekla Farrell in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina on April 6, 2014. Before his retirement, Willie was the Corporate Vice President of Business Development for the Rempac Corporation and prior to that he spent 29 years with the Hartz Mountain Corporation as the Chief Operating Officer. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and traveling to Cancun Mexico, but most importantly, his grandchildren and family were his priority as he loved them dearly. He was an incredible father to his two daughters and an incredibly loving husband to his wife Tekla. His love of life was unmatched. Surviving are his beloved wife, Tekla; his mother, Betty Ann Holmes of Verona Beach; his two daughters, Julie (Mathew) Danback of Jarrell, Texas, Kathleen (Nicholas) McMahan of Gaithersburg, Maryland; their mother Diane Martin, his five grandchildren, Kaia, Thatcher, Juneeper, Conor and Mac; his four sisters, Christine Peterson of Townshend, Vermont, Cynthia (Michael) Brown of Baldwinsville, Donna (George) Clark of Morriston, Florida and Jackie (Bruce) Hodge of Old Forge; his three brothers, Robert M. (Mary Jane) Roberts of Oneida, Richard (Kathy) Brewer of Horseheads and Ed (Joann) Holmes of Verona Beach; and several nieces and nephews. Willie's family wishes to acknowledge, with much gratitude, his dedicated caretakers, Janelle Swafford, Sarah Matt, Sarah Congden, Jason Sterling, Judy Parker and his niece, Lisa Clark. Funeral services will be held Wednesday October 29th at 10am at St. Mary's of the Lake Church, Verona Beach, where the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Reverend Christopher Ballard, pastor. Friends may call at the Campbell-Dean Funeral Home, Inc., 260 Main Street, Oneida on Monday October 27th from 3-5pm and Tuesday, October 28th from 5-7pm. Contributions may be made to the Sylvan Beach Fire Department, P.O. Box 503, Sylvan Beach, NY 13157.