Robert Gene Martin
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Robert Gene Martin passed away peacefully at home in the early hours of Monday February 8, 2021 at the age of 90. Bob was born in Bloomington, Indiana on May 17, 1930. His parents were John Merritt Martin and Josie Mable (Fisher) Martin. Bob attended Hunter Elementary School and Bloomington High School, graduating in 1948. After high school, he began studies at Indiana University. After his first year at IU, he transferred to Purdue University, graduating from Purdue in 1953 with a Bachelor of Science degree. Upon graduation from Purdue, Bob was drafted into the Army during the Korean Conflict. He served in Germany as a Radio Operator from 1953 to 1955. He was also a member of the Bloomington American Legion. After his discharge from the military, Bob returned to Bloomington to work at Johnson's Creamery where he remained for 44 years. He retired as the President of Johnson's Dairy Products in 1994. Bob began a second career after retirement with Harrell Pipe and Supply and later with Lee Supply.
Bob is survived by his wife Mary Alice (Bell) Martin whom he married on August 7, 1955 in Orleans, Indiana. Bob and Mary Alice had 3 Children, Alice Ann (Chris) Owings, Holly Martin, and Daniel Martin (deceased). His is also survived by one Grandson Austin (Andrea) Fultz and 2 Great Grand Daughters, Anna Lenn Fultz and Allison Grace Fultz, and 3 step Great Grandchildren, Drew Fletcher, McKenzie Fletcher, and Brooklyn Fletcher.
Bob had many interests and hobbies throughout the years. In his early years, he was a member of the Boy Scouts, Troop B, where he met many of his lifelong friends. The troop meetings were held at the First Christian Church on Kirkwood Ave where Bob was a member most of his life. Several of his Boy Scout buddies became members of the annual Canadian Walleye Hunt expedition. For over 30 years 6 to 8 of these close friends loaded up a Motor Home and headed to Canada to fish for two weeks each June. Bob was also a Ham Radio operator with the call letters K9CGT. He spent many hours communicating with other ham radio operators around the world. He enjoyed it so much he later taught evening classes on morse code at Bloomington High School South for several years. He maintained his ham license and his call letters are still his vehicle license plate. Vintage roadsters were another hobby of Bob's. When he was in the military in Germany one of the Lieutenant's had a Triumph Roadster and Bob dreamed of owning one just like it. Many years later he made that dream come true when he purchased a vintage 1959 Triumph TR3. He joined the Indiana Triumph Club and enjoyed participating in many Triumph activities; including driving his TR3 around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In his later years, Salsbury Scooters were Bob's hobby. When he was a boy, he built his first scooter from parts he obtained from the junk yard. In college he had a Salsbury scooter he drove back and forth from Bloomington to West Lafayette. The happy memories of his scooters convinced him to purchase and restore a black 1946 Salsbury Scooter back to its original beauty in 2004. Bob was a founding member of the Salsbury Restoration Society of Ohio and enjoyed many group scooter rides with other club members. While many of Bob's hobbies included tinkering and restoring cars and scooters, Bob was also interested in new technology. When computers began to come on the scene, Bob began learning. He learned how to write code and he built his first computer from a kit. He also used his knowledge to create programs that were utilized in his work at Johnsons. His interest in computers and technology would continue for the balance of his life. Bob lived a full life. He and Mary Alice traveled extensively after retirement in the United States, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Visitation is Tuesday February 16th from 4pm to 8pm at Chandler Funeral Home on Temperance Street in Ellettsville, IN. There will be a family graveside service on Wednesday February 17th at noon. A Celebration of Life for family and friends will be held in the Spring.
Share condolences, memories and more with Bob's family at www.chandlerfh.com