Richard Caswell Martin, Jr.

Dick Martin, 86, of Simpsonville, S.C., husband of Louise Foster Martin, passed away on Sunday, September 8, 2019.

Mr. Martin served on active duty with the U.S. Army from August 1953 to August 1955. He was a member of HQ & HQ Co., 1st BN 516 ABN INF, 101st ABN DIV at Fort Jackson, S.C. He was honorably discharged at the rank of Sergeant. He transferred to the N.C. National Guard and was a member of Co. A, 120th INF in Elkin, N.C. He was honorably discharged at the rank of Sergeant First Class.

In his early years, when he was known as “Rusty”, he worked at F.W. Chevrolet in Elkin, N.C. and at Rose and Day Pontiac in Jonesville, N.C. before he began teaching Automotive Mechanics at Wilkes Community College. In 1968, Mr. Martin went to work with the Chevrolet Motor Division of the General Motors Corporation and retired after 29 years in 1997. He made many friends at Chevrolet and cherished the memories of those he had met, both at the office, and at the many dealerships that he visited.

Born in Ronda, NC, he was a son of the late Richard Caswell Martin, Sr. and Blanche McBride Martin.

In addition to his wife, Louise, Mr. Martin is survived by their two sons, Dan (Cheryl) Martin of Mauldin and Hal (Noriko) Martin of Simpsonville; grandchildren, Chris (Heather) Martin, Brittany Martin, Jake Martin, and Lina Martin, and 3 great-grandchildren.

He also left behind many good friends and neighbors who knew him as a genuinely beautiful person, who loved a good conversation and always wanted to help others. He was a truly great man, one of a kind, and he will be sorely missed.

The family requests that memorials be made to: ASPCA American Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at www.secure.aspca.org.

Private services will be held for the family.