John P. Martin Jr., 70, of Hume, Va., died Jan. 13, 2011. He was born on June 1, 1940 in Elizabeth, N.J., to the late John P. Martin and Evelyn Kidd Martin. Dr. Martin retired as a professor and chairman of the department of special education at Converse College in Spartanburg, S.C.
He attended public schools in Rahway, N.J., and graduated from Rahway High School in 1958. Dr. Martin received his B.A., M.A. and Ed.D degrees from the University of Alabama.
He served his country in the U.S. Army, where he spent three years working in the office of the United States commander of Berlin in Germany.
Dr. Martin began his professional career teaching multi-handicapped children in Decatur, Ala. He then worked for the department of pediatrics and the Center for Developmental and Learning Disabilities at the University of Alabama Medical Center in Birmingham, Ala.
After leaving the University of Alabama Medical Center, Dr. Martin founded and chaired the department. of special education at Converse College. He was a member of many professional organizations and lay groups dealing with disabled children. He was a long-time chairman of the Spartanburg County Developmental Disabilities Board and received many awards for his work with parents of disabled children.
Dr. Martin’s first marriage to Virginia Montgomery Martin ended in divorce. He has two children by this marriage: Margaret E. Martin of Birmingham, Ala., and Catherine M. Schiller of Starkville, Miss., and one grandchild, James Schiller. Also surviving are two sisters; Mrs. Carol Momot of Missoula, Mont., and Mrs. Patricia M. Hunt of Strasburg, Pa.
In 1992, Dr. Martin married the former Suzanne C. Austell and they made their home in Columbus. They both enjoyed hunting with the Tryon Hounds. In addition to his previous work, Dr. Martin chaired the board of Steps To HOPE, a domestic violence shelter, and was also on the Polk County Mental Health Board and the Tryon Foundation.
After his retirement from Converse College, the Martins relocated to Fauquier County, Va., where they restored an antique home called Morven. Dr. Martin was a lover of fine shotguns and held memberships with the Virginia Vintagers Association and the Prospect Hall Shooting Club. The Martins also hunted with the Old Dominion Hounds.
His loving wife, Suzanne, died on June 13, 2009. Dr. Martin will be buried next to his wife at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Upperville, Va.
A memorial service will be held at noon on Wednesday, Jan. 19 at Trinity Episcopal Chruch in Upperville, Va.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Trinity Church Rector’s Discretionary Fund, P.O. Box 127, Upperville, Va 20185.