Paul Douglas Martin, Jr., 1916-1991

When death came to Paul Douglas Martin, Jr., August 19, 1991, one of God's noble servants entered the church triumphant. The product of a devotedly Christian home, Paul was born March 25, 1916, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Douglas Martin, Sr. He was an active member of Greene Memorial Church in Roanoke, Virginia and it was there as a teenager he felt the call to the ministry. He prepared for the ministry at Roanoke College where he received the B.A. degree. In 1970, in recognition of his outstanding service to Christ and his Church, Randolph-Macon College awarded him the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity. Paul was married to Virginia Akers on February 13, 1938, and for 53 years they were partners in ministry. In addition to Virginia, Paul is survived by three daughters, Sarah Whitmore (Mrs. G. Winston), Suzanne Boltz (Mrs. David), and Rebecca (Mrs. James H. Mosley, II) and six grandchildren.

Paul began his pastoral ministry on the South Franklin Charge in 1938 and successively served the following pastoral appointments: Henry Circuit; Bishop Memorial, Richmond; Eagle Rock-Iron Gate; Warrenton; Trinity, McLean; and Fairlington. In addition to his pastoral appointments, Paul served as a chaplain in World War II and in the Korean conflict rising to the rank of Lt. Colonel. He remained in the reserve Chaplains Corps and gave extensive service as a supervising chaplain. He served also as the district superintendent of the Winchester and the Richmond districts. In 1973, he became the executive director of Virginia United Methodist Homes and served in this ministry until the time of his retirement in 1985. Following his retirement he served as minister of visitation at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, Richmond.

His service in the larger life of the church was both extensive and distinguished. For more than a decade he was chosen by his colleagues to represent the Virginia conference at the General and Jurisdictional conferences. At the General Conference of 1972 he had the high honor of being chosen as the chairman of the committee on Pensions of the General Conference, having served for eight years on the General Board of Pensions. His leadership in the field of care of the aging was recognized when he was chosen to serve a term as chairman of the Association of Health and Welfare Ministries of the United Methodist Church, an organization representing all the caring ministries of the denomination.

Perhaps, to him, the most satisfying ministry beyond the local church in which he was involved was the 18 years he spent on the Board of Trustees of Randolph-Macon Academy. His interest in and contribution to that board led to his election as its president, a position he occupied for more than a dozen years. During his years of leadership of the board the school grew both in enrollment and the expansion of its physical facilities. Only failing health caused him to give up his participation in this enterprise in which he found such great satisfaction.

Paul faced a lingering painful illness with the same faith and courage that had characterized his life. Funeral services were conducted at Reveille Church, Richmond, by the pastor Dr. Richard Worden and the writer, and at Greene Memorial Church, Roanoke by the Rev. M. Chick Wilkerson, Dr. Alpheus W. Potts and the Rev. Harwood Myres. Internment was in Evergreen Memorial Park, Roanoke, Virginia.

Paul Martin was a loving husband, a devoted father, a loved and gifted pastor, and a wise and effective administrator whose life was dominated by his love for Christ and his church. His life and ministry has left an enduring legacy from which succeeding generations will profit.

-R. Kern Eutsler