KENNETH S. MARTIN
Sept. 14,1958-May 7, 2016
Kenneth Stephen Martin, 57, better known as simply Ken, passed away Saturday morning, May 7, 2016, at Kitty Askins Hospice Center.
A life-long resident of the Thunder Swamp/Smith Chapel area near Mount Olive, Ken was the son of the late S.J. and Betty Jean Godwin Martin. He grew up in Thunder Swamp Pentecostal Holiness Church, but later became a member of Smith Chapel United Methodist Church. However, his active relationship with the Thunder Swamp Church remained.
He was a farmer and was employed with J.C. Howard Farms at Deep Run as its feed mill manager. He and his wife also operated Martin’s Mowing. He retired from Smith Chapel Fire Department with 30 years of volunteer service. In earlier years, he had been employed with Holt and Whitted Mill.
He is survived by his wife of over 28 years, Jennifer Swinson Martin; daughter, Emily Martin of Mount Olive, and soon-to-be-husband, Alex Howard, of Mount Olive; his mom, Doris Finch Heath Martin, of Mount Olive; sisters and brothers-in-law, Kathy M. and Kendall Rikard, and daughter, Melinda, of Goldsboro, and Robin Heath and Wyatt Ellis and family of Pittsboro; brothers and a sister-in-law, Bobby and Cindy Heath and family, of Mount Olive, and Ronnie Heath and family, of Grantham; an uncle, Billy Godwin of Mount Olive; several close cousins; mother-in-law, Mavis B. Swinson of Mount Olive, along with Jennifer’s siblings and their families.
His father-in-law, Bruce Swinson, preceded him in death.
Services to remember Ken’s life will be today at 7 p.m. at Tyndall Funeral Home, officiated by the Rev. Jonathan Altman, with visitation following. Burial will be Tuesday at 10 a.m. in Martin-Price Cemetery. Flowers are welcome or memorial gifts may be made to Cure for the Colors, c/o Southeastern Cancer Center, 203 Cox Blvd., Goldsboro, N.C., 27534.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on May 9, 2016 1:48 PM