Harold F. Martin

Harold (Bud) F. Martin, Jr., 94, of Bellefontaine, died August 19 at Willow Brook Christian Home in Columbus, Ohio. He was born September 4, 1923, in Pemberville, Ohio, son of Harold F.  Sr. and Dena (Lohmeyer) Martin. In 1944, he married Gloria Van Camp; they were married 74 years.

He is survived by his loving wife Gloria, his three sons, Terry (Carolyn) of Upper St. Claire, PA., Gary (Jane) of Worthington, OH, and Tim of Portage, MI; eight grandchildren including David Sr. (Jennifer) Martin, Dawn (Caz) Mostowy, Darren (Laurena) Martin, Andrew (Helen) Martin, Jordan, Nathan and Nicholas Martin, and Meagan (Austin) Schey, plus 14 great grandchildren and his half-sister, Martha Ann (Timothy) Patterson.

Harold was preceded in death by two sisters, Geraldine Bolfa and Carol Jean Martin, his brother Roger, and grandson Jason Martin.

Harold served his country in WWII as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Corps from January 16, 1942 to October 16, 1945. He served two years in the Panama Canal Zone and Guatemala.

Harold was a faithful and active member of the First United Methodist Church in Bellefontaine and also served as Vice President and President in the Logan County Weekday Religious Association from 1991-2000. He was active in Promise Keepers, the Gideons International and Emmaus. He was a member of Kiwanis in Fostoria and Bellefontaine for 40 years and served as a Kiwanis Lieutenant Governor in 1984-1985.

He graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1948 and again in 1955 majoring in Education and Educational Administration. His career in education included eight years as a teacher and coach in East Palestine and Swanton, then short stints at Fulton Local and Delta High School as principal. He then served as Assistant Superintendent of schools in Fostoria, Superintendent at Pandora-Gilboa in Putnam Co. and Elmwood School in Wood Co., and Superintendent of Bellefontaine City Schools from May 1973-July 1976, when he retired.

In 1978, he was appointed as camping program director by the Western Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church, having supervision responsibilities over several church camps including Camp Wesley near Bellefontaine.

In 1982, he joined Money Concepts Capital Corporation as a financial registered representative, retiring in 2000.

Bud deeply loved his wife Gloria and his family. His faith in Jesus was strong and he took a short-term mission trip to Romania to work with an orphanage. He read his Bible often and in the front of it wrote these words of wisdom about the Bible: “Open this book often to read; Reflect on its teachings; Answer its call, Respond to its challenge, and Extend its message.”

Bud enjoyed traveling, golfing, bowling, birdwatching, sports, and vacationing in the family cabin on the shore of White Fish Bay. Most of all he loved his family and his Lord. We all have many found memories of summer vacations at the “Bay.” He will be missed by us all.

The funeral will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Bellefontaine August 25, 2018. Visitation will be at 11 AM followed by the funeral service at 12 noon, Pastor Ben Shaeffer officiating. Interment will be at Huntsville Cemetery following the service.

The funeral arrangements are in the care of the staff of the Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Bellefontaine.

KVH