Harold Ernest Martin Jr.'s Obituary
Harold Ernest Martin, Jr. was born in Indianapolis, IN on October 29, 1942, and moved to Terre Haute, IN at the age of 2. After being connected with Haven Hospice, he died on June 17, 2025, in the Medical ICU at the University of Florida Shands Hospital.
Harold's favorite sport was baseball, and he spent countless hours playing in recreational leagues. He attended Gerstmeyer H.S. where he played baseball and was a kicker on the football team. He graduated from Purdue University in IN in 1965 with an Electrical Engineering Degree. He briefly worked for a firm in Indianapolis before being drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War. He was sent to Aberdeen Proving Grounds north of Baltimore, MD because of their need for an Electrical Engineer. He met and they married on June 26, 1971. They resided near Cincinnati, OH where Harold worked for General Electric as part of the Jet Engine Group. During that time they had 3 children and moved to Gainesville, FL in 1980 where he worked in the G.E. Battery Division in a few different positions with different companies who bought the business until he retired in 1999. Subsequent owners of the facility hired him for part time and full time employment to run the Wastewater Treatment Plant at the site until he stopped in 2023.
He was a wonderful father, spending many hours with his twin sons practicing baseball during their elementary and middle school years when they were playing in recreational leagues and at Buchholz H.S. There were many out of town family trips to watch games and also to take the daughter to football games to cheer. He was very proud of his sons and daughter in their careers. Children, spouses and grandchildren were able to come to Gainesville to spend a good bit of time with Harold since mid-March when he was still at home and after May 2 when he was in Hospitals and Rehab centers.
He enjoyed boating and fishing, playing with grandchildren especially when they were toddlers, visiting family, visiting National Parks, searching for sea glass on vacations and designing pictures with it. He enjoyed spending time in New Smyrna Beach in a condo shared with a son's family on the Indian River and very close to the ocean. Boating was my favorite activity. He was a big fan of Gator Football and enjoyed attending the home games. After his sons were finished playing baseball, he was an Assistant Coach for a recreational league baseball team for a few years.
He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Betty; children, Todd Marin (Serena), Chad Martin (Kori), Suzanne Martin; six grandchildren; sisters, Janet Swift (Bill), Gayle Decker (George “Bud”), and sister-in-law, Pat Martin.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Jean Evan and brother, William “Bill” Martin.
Funeral Services and Internment will be in Terre Haute, IN at Roselawn Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 7500 N Clinton St, Terre Haute, IN 47805 on Monday, June 30, 2025.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Harold’s memory to a charity of your choice
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