Joseph Martin

Joseph Warren Martin died June 11, 2018 after a brief bout with pneumonia.

Joseph Warren Martin peacefully entered the presence of his Savior and Lord at St. Franciscan Hospital in Enumclaw, Washington on June 11, 2018 after a brief bout with pneumonia.

He was born in Buckley, Washington on November 27, 1924 to parents John and Winnie ( Blessing ) Martin. Joe was the oldest of five siblings.

He graduated from Buckley High School in 1943 where he met the love of his life, Betty Lois Seidl. The two were married on December 3, 1944.

A short time later, Joe shipped out with the US Navy to serve in the Pacific theatre as a Radarman, first on Tarawa attached to the 3rd Marine Division and later on the USS Franklin, surviving a horrendous Japanese attack on March 1945.

After the war, Joe went to college graduating from the University of Puget Sound with a degree in Music and Library Science. Daughter Diane was born in 1945 in San Francisco. Son David was born in 1951 in Tacoma.

After college, Joe went to work as a service repairman for Interlake Steel Corporation traveling throughout the Northwest eventually retiring from that company. Joe was a gifted musician, playing his saxophone throughout his life as well as professionally every Friday and Saturday night at the Top of the Ocean Restaurant in Tacoma with the Louis Grenier Orchestra. He loved growing a huge garden which provided for family and friends.

Above all, he loved serving the Lord as an elder and teacher and was an active member of Smith Memorial Presbyterian Church in Troutdale, Oregon, Country Bible Church in Enumclaw, WA and the Buckley Presbyterian Church.

Joe was preceded in death by his wife of 72 years, Betty, father and mother and sister Jean ( Bride ). He is survived by daughter Diane McKenny of Kent, WA; son and daughter-in-law, David and Nancy Martin of Peshastin, WA; sister Laureen and Bob Conner; sister Joyanne and Lloyd Livernash; and sister Rowena and Dayton Hubbard, all of Buckley, many grandchildren, great grandchildren, great great grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at Community Presbyterian Church, Buckley, WA on Saturday June 16, 2018 at 1:00 PM.