Robert Martin
On Friday, October 23, 2020 (Robert) Larry Martin, loving husband, and father of 7 children, passed away in his home at the age of 73. After a 9 near battle to recover from a brain injury, he has received the ultimate healing through his faith in Jesus Christ and is no longer in pain.
He is survived by his loving wife, Jane and their five children, Nicholas Martin, Molly Townley (Patrick), Lily McBride (Jay), Jessie Porter (Phil), Elliana Martin, and Katie Dwyer (Steven) and Josh Martin from a previous marriage, his brother Walter Adams (Carolyn), brother by choice and grandfather to his children Captain (William) Bill Painter, grandchildren (Gabe, Iris, Garrett, and Lillian), and many nieces and nephews.
Larry was born in LaFayette, Georgia on December 14, 1946 to Robert and Kathleen Martin. He graduated from Lakeview High school and began work in the drafting and engineering field before enlisting in the US Navy in 1967 and fighting in the Republic of Vietnam as a Seabee until 1968. He continued serving in the reserves until 1971. Following an honorable discharge, he attended Georgia Institute of Technology where he began his engineering career.
He was employed by McKee Foods Corporation as their Corporate Environmental Engineer and Group Manager of Property Protection and Security for 21 years until his retirement in 2012 due to a brain injury. Following his retirement, he was blessed with a wonderful group of coworkers who have taken him to lunch faithfully on a weekly basis for the last 9 years.
Throughout his life Larry was well-loved and respected. He was a born again Christian and a member of Grace Baptist Church. He served the people of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico through church-building missions’ trips for 6 years and was always available and ready to lend a hand to anyone. He was generous and kind and had a wonderful spirit which made you instantly comfortable around him. Larry was a jokester who told all the best “dad jokes” and was at the ready with a goofy face when any of his children might need cheering up and even when they did not.
He was an avid golfer and, out of love for his brother, often let him win a game or two. His love for golf included annual weekend trips with his golf buddies to Baneberry Golf Resort where he could “play unlimited rounds of golf” and which earned him the title of Larry “Shag” Martin in celebration of excellence in ball retrieval technology.
As much as he said he disliked how many pets his family brought home, he was frequently caught loving on each of them. He loved hiking and camping in the mountains and searching for sharks’ teeth at the beach on Amelia Island. His love of Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and oldies music lives on in his children, as does his cheesy humor, freckled skin, and love for the outdoors. Larry was a faithful and loving husband, present and caring father, hardworking and diligent employee, and a kind-hearted and generous friend. He is already missed by everyone who knew him.
In lieu of current CDC and COVID restrictions, all services will be private at this time with a public celebration service at a later date.
Please visit www.heritagechattanooga. to share words of comfort to the family.
Arrangements by Heritage Funeral Home, 7454 E. Brainerd Rd.