DARLINGTON - On Monday, October 21, 2013, Robert Doring Martin, peacefully passed away in the comfort of his Darlington home.
Robert entered this world on March 4, 1927 in his family's home on Catherine Street in Darlington, where he was raised and graduated as valedictorian of his high school class. Immediately thereafter, Robert entered the U.S. Army and was stationed in Ft. McClellan, Alabama, until being discharged from the Infantry as Tech Sergeant in November 1946. Upon his return, Robert attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison, earning his bachelor of arts degree in three years and graduating in January 1950. Immediately thereafter, Robert accepted a position with Ford Motor Company, which ultimately spanned thirty-three years, eight locations, and executive positions that included district sales manager, national truck sales manager, and an appointment to the Ford Operating Committee.
In that short span of time between his graduation from UW and before starting with Ford in Des Moines, Iowa, Robert wed his high school sweetheart Rita McGowan on August 19, 1950 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Darlington, WI. In the decades that followed, Robert and Rita raised four children. Robert retired from Ford in 1983, but returned to work first as a general manager of a Ford-BMW dealership in Omaha, Nebraska for several years. After a four-year retirement in Scottsdale, Arizona Robert and Rita returned to their beloved Darlington in 1989, where Robert joined the Citizens National Bank where he served for nine years. Upon his "second retirement," Robert and Rita enjoyed golf, friends, and family both locally and in Arizona for a period of years.
Having completed his cycle of life here on earth, Robert will be remembered as a gentleman and a man of solid integrity. His faith was unwavering. He was a leader and exhibited loyalty in both his personal and professional life. Although his body began to fail in later years, his mind remained sharp. His wit and wisdom will be dearly missed, but he leaves a legacy of which he was very proud: his devoted wife, Rita; son Robert (Nancy) Martin of Scottsdale, Arizona; son Richard (Toni) Martin of Great Falls, Montana; daughter Nancy (Tom) Cook, New Orleans, Louisiana; and Melissa (Chip) Clark of Carmel, Indiana; twelve grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. May Robert rest in peace. He was preceded by his father and mother George and Luella Martin, his mother-in-law and father-in-law: Bernard and Bernice McGowan and a grandson George Bernard Martin.
Memorial Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, October 25, 2013 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Darlington, WI with Fr. John Bosco Pudhota officiating. Inurnment with full military honors will be at Holy Rosary Catholic Church Cemetery. A visitation will take place from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, October 24, 2013 at the STEIL CAMACHO FUNERAL HOME, 206 E. Harriet St., Darlington, WI.
www.darlingtonfuneralhome.com
(608) 776-2461
Robert entered this world on March 4, 1927 in his family's home on Catherine Street in Darlington, where he was raised and graduated as valedictorian of his high school class. Immediately thereafter, Robert entered the U.S. Army and was stationed in Ft. McClellan, Alabama, until being discharged from the Infantry as Tech Sergeant in November 1946. Upon his return, Robert attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison, earning his bachelor of arts degree in three years and graduating in January 1950. Immediately thereafter, Robert accepted a position with Ford Motor Company, which ultimately spanned thirty-three years, eight locations, and executive positions that included district sales manager, national truck sales manager, and an appointment to the Ford Operating Committee.
In that short span of time between his graduation from UW and before starting with Ford in Des Moines, Iowa, Robert wed his high school sweetheart Rita McGowan on August 19, 1950 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Darlington, WI. In the decades that followed, Robert and Rita raised four children. Robert retired from Ford in 1983, but returned to work first as a general manager of a Ford-BMW dealership in Omaha, Nebraska for several years. After a four-year retirement in Scottsdale, Arizona Robert and Rita returned to their beloved Darlington in 1989, where Robert joined the Citizens National Bank where he served for nine years. Upon his "second retirement," Robert and Rita enjoyed golf, friends, and family both locally and in Arizona for a period of years.
Having completed his cycle of life here on earth, Robert will be remembered as a gentleman and a man of solid integrity. His faith was unwavering. He was a leader and exhibited loyalty in both his personal and professional life. Although his body began to fail in later years, his mind remained sharp. His wit and wisdom will be dearly missed, but he leaves a legacy of which he was very proud: his devoted wife, Rita; son Robert (Nancy) Martin of Scottsdale, Arizona; son Richard (Toni) Martin of Great Falls, Montana; daughter Nancy (Tom) Cook, New Orleans, Louisiana; and Melissa (Chip) Clark of Carmel, Indiana; twelve grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. May Robert rest in peace. He was preceded by his father and mother George and Luella Martin, his mother-in-law and father-in-law: Bernard and Bernice McGowan and a grandson George Bernard Martin.
Memorial Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, October 25, 2013 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Darlington, WI with Fr. John Bosco Pudhota officiating. Inurnment with full military honors will be at Holy Rosary Catholic Church Cemetery. A visitation will take place from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, October 24, 2013 at the STEIL CAMACHO FUNERAL HOME, 206 E. Harriet St., Darlington, WI.
www.darlingtonfuneralhome.com
(608) 776-2461