JOSEPH ASBURY MARTIN

Joseph Asbury Martin, Jr., 69, passed away Monday February 28, 2011 at Pitt Memorial Hospital, Greenville, NC. He was born in Lansing, Ash County, NC on March 29, 1941 to the late Joseph Asbury Martin, Sr. and Kathryn Bell Martin.

At an early age, Joseph moved with his parents to Red Oak, NC, as his father became Principal of Red Oak High School. Joseph graduated from Red Oak High School and attended Mars Hill Junior College in Ashville, NC, where he was a starter on the basketball team. He later received his B.S. degree in Biology at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC. He worked as a surveyor for the U.S. Forest Service in Gulf Port, MS for several years and was also employed with the Shearon Harris Nuclear Plant in the RTP area. Later, he returned to Red Oak to be a companion to his widowed mother; where they enjoyed traveling, especially visiting with relatives. Upon the death of his mother, he relocated in Greenville, NC to be closer to the coast. Joseph was a member of Red Oak Baptist Church. He was an avid sports enthusiast, and possessed a wonderful memory of facts and figures, not only regarding sports but a multitude of life data. Joseph was a natural science authority in regard to plants, trees, crops, weather and other aspects of nature. Meteorology and Genealogy were his special interests. He will be remembered as a kind and gentle soul with a dry sense of humor, but warm heart and humble disposition. Joseph will be greatly missed by his family and dear friends and all who knew and loved him, as he was a special person.

He is survived by two brothers, Gary David Martin and wife, Christina of Chantilly, VA and Franklin Donald Martin and wife, Ann of Wilson, NC along with one niece, three nephews and a host of other relatives.

A graveside service to celebrate and honor his life will be held 2:00 p.m. Thursday, March 3, 2011 at Red Oak Cemetery with Rev. Rucker Burnette and Rev. Larry Bostian officiating.

Flowers are accepted or memorial donations may be made to Red Oak High School Alumni Association Student Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 125, Red Oak, NC 27868 . You may share your memories and send condolences to the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com. Arrangements by Wheeler Woodlief Funeral Home, 1130 N. Winstead Ave., Rocky Mount, NC 27804.

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