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MARTIN VAN BUREN Jr.

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MARTIN VAN BUREN Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Apr. 11, 2012.

MAYODAN — Mr. Van Buren Martin, Jr., 82, of 981 Ledbetter Road died Monday, April 9, 2012 at his home.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Mr. Martin was born February 8, 1930 in Rockingham County, to the late Van Buren Martin, Sr. and Minnie Ethel Joyce Martin. He served in the United States Air Force-Strategic Air Command. In 1976, he began working for TRW, Inc. at their Space Park location in Redondo Beach, California. A precision machinist, Mr. Martin was a member of the team that built engines for Apollo 11's Eagle, the lunar landing craft, and command ship Columbia, for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Mr. Martin was also on the team that built Pioneer 10, in addition to working on many other projects before his retirement in 1976. At that time, he and his family returned to Rockingham County. In 1982 he began to work as a machinist for Miller Brewery in Eden, NC. Following retirement, he stayed busy farming, raising cattle, hunting and fishing.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Mrs. Jollie David Smith Martin, and two infant sisters.

He is survived by sons, Van "Butch" Martin, III and wife, Wendy and Tony David Martin and wife, Charlotte all of Mayodan; daughter, Charlotte Martin Mason and husband, Robert of Madison; grandsons, Cameron David Martin, Daniel Hunter Martin, Lucas Aaron Martin all of Mayodan; Trey Matthew Mason of Madison; sisters, Mabel Steele and husband, Boyd, Geraldine "Deanie" Clark and husband, Roy of Stoneville, Sybil Steele of Sandy Ridge.

The family will receive friends from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m., Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at Ray Funeral Home.

Special thanks to Brandon Sowers, Hospice of Rockingham County, and Dr. Francis Wong of Western Rockingham Family Medicine for their assistance with Van's care.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Hospice of Rockingham County, P.O. Box 281, Wentworth, NC 27375 or Joyce Chapel Cemetery Fund, c/o Sue and Darrell Johnson, 968 Janet Road, Stoneville, NC 27048.

Online condolences may be sent to www.rayfuneralhome.com.

Ray Funeral Home in Madison is serving the Martin family.

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April 11, 2012

I have many wonderful memories of Van. One day when Van was a little boy, PaPete sent him to feed the mules. He went to the corn crib to gather corn and the corn crib was full of weevils. When Van came to the house he had put a kernel of corn in his ear to keep the weevils out. Ma Minnie was quite concerned but I was able to remove the kernel of corn with a long darning needle. Love you, Sybil