Arthur Martin

Arthur Gene Martin, 91, of Columbus, NC, died Monday, January 17, 2022, at St. Luke's Hospital in Columbus, NC.  Born August 18, 1930 in Cherokee County, he was the son of the late Fred Jefferson and Doris Dora Schmidt Martin of Cherokee County.

An Air Force veteran during the Korean War, Mr. Martin proudly served his country with great honor.  He was later employed with Stanback Company for about 30 years and Sunny Slope Farms in Gaffney, SC for about 20 years.  An avid sports fan, he played both football and basketball for his beloved Gaffney High School Indians and was a member of the Gaffney High School 1949 State Championship Basketball Team.  Mr. Martin was an active member of Goucher Baptist Church, Gaffney, SC and attended when able, after relocating to Columbus, NC.

He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Marlene Vaughn Martin, his son, Robert Gene Martin of Gaffney, SC, and his daughters, Janice Martin Swaney (Charles) of Woodruff, SC, Gayle Martin Stone (Ric) of Spartanburg, SC, and Donna Martin Brown (Benny) of Tryon, NC, his grandchildren, Christopher Earl Harvey, Lalon Martin Swaney, Sarah Stone Fant (Chris), Richard Gantt Stone IV, Robert Adam Martin, Michael Gene Martin, James Perry Martin,  and Hannah Martin Batson (Andrew), and his great-grandchildren, Trevor Christopher Harvey, Zane Alexander Phillips, Owen Martin, Ellis Martin, KaraLee Elizabeth Batson, and Oliver Edmund Batson.  He is also survived by his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Kenneth Rabb, Buddy and Patricia Vaughn, Ronnie and Patsy Baker, Rex Cauble, and Rosalee Martin, and many, many dear nieces and nephews.

Along with his parents he was predeceased by his brothers, David Martin and Albert Martin, and his sister and brother-in-law, LD and Dorothy Wright, sisters-in-law, Selma Rabb and JoAnn Cauble, brother-in-law, Perry Vaughn, and Mr. Martin's nieces, Angie Vaughn and Karen Calhoun.

Mr. Martin loved to travel, and he would probably agree that he knew every backroad, country road, highway, and interstate in South Carolina.  Several trips during the years to Table Rock State Park for the weekend with his children and grandchildren in tow are priceless memories that will not be soon forgotten.  From the mountains to the beaches, Mr. Martin was always ready for a family roadtrip.

The family will receive friends at Goucher Baptist Church, 415 State Rd S-11-584, Gaffney, SC on Sunday, January 23, 2022, at 1:00-1:45 PM.  A service to honor Mr. Martin's life, will be held afterwards at Goucher Baptist Church, at 2:00 PM conducted by The Rev. Tom Moore, Col. Roy Mathis, The Rev. Mark Hazel, and The Rev. Frank Sledge.  Interment with Military Honors will follow at the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of one's choice.