Thomas C. Strickland & Sons Funeral Home, Effingham Chapel
912-754-6421 (fax) 912-754-3426
P.O. Box 295
Springfield, GA 31329

Ronald Emmett Martin

Springfield / Shawnee – Ronald Emmett Martin, 70, passed away Sunday, January 30, 2011 after a short illness.

He was a native of Chatham County but had lived in Effingham County for most of his life. He spent many of his early years with his predeceased grandparents William Barrett Seckinger and Pearl Jaudon Seckinger, and he loved his grandmother dearly. She was the inspiration for his Christian legacy. He leaves a legacy of Christian faith and family. He was a Methodist all of his life and was a faithful member of the Springfield United Methodist Church where was a member of the Bible Studies Sunday School Class. He enjoyed attending Effingham Methodist Campmeeting for most of his life. He enjoyed worshipping his God through singing and Bible study.

He was an avid outdoorsman. He hunted, fished, gardened, and he enjoyed these activities with his wife, children, and grandchildren.

He was employed with Kaiser Chemicals, Stone Container, and retired from Citgo Oil.

He was Past Master of the Springfield Lodge, F. & A.M. 440. He was an honorary member of the A and P (Arnsdorff and Pace) Hunting Club near Springfield and Mr. Arthur's Wednesday Card Circle.

He is survived by his loving wife of fifty-two years, Barbara Zafra Martin, of Springfield; two sons, Ronald Urbano Keith Martin and his wife, Liza, of Springfield, and Emmett Duane Martin and his wife, Kathy, of Bloomingdale, and a daughter, Deanna Jeanine Martin Ambrose, and her husband, Keith of Springfield. He is survived by seven grandchildren, Ryan Keith Ambrose, Jena Alisha Ambrose, Evan Martin Ambrose, Spencer Duane Martin, Harleigh Deanna Martin Sellars, Zafra Urbano Enrique Martin, and Zander Keith Quintos Martin, and one step great-grandchild, Dakota Sellars. He is also survived by a brother, Bernard William Martin, of Rincon, and many nieces and cousins.

He was predeceased by his parent, Emmett Lazzard Martin and Edith Seckinger Martin Williams and sister Leolita Martin Bryant.

Visitation will be 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at Springfield United Methodist Church with Rev. Dr. Jerry Roe, Rev. Chance Ward, and Rev. Dr. Ben Martin officiating.

Pallbearers will be Ryan Ambrose, Spencer Martin, Michael Rahn, Bruce Rahn, Richard Huff, William Pye, Roy Arnsdorff, and Chuck McDaniel.

Honorary pallbearers will be Bible Studies Class, A and P Hunting Club, and Mr. Arthur's Wednesday Card Circle.

Interment will follow in Rincon Cemetery.

Remembrances may be given to Effingham County Methodist Campground Fund, c/o Stuart Exley, 306 W. First Street, Springfield, GA 31329.

The family extended special thanks to the caregivers at Candler Hospital in the Emergency Unit and the Intensive Care Unit, including nurses and technicians, specifically, Courtney, Yvette, and Reid. The family is thankful also for care and advice given by physicians, Masood Ahmed, Mohammad A. Masroor, Gifford Lorenz, and Florin Georgescu.

Thomas C. Strickland & Sons Funeral Home, Effingham Chapel. 754-6421