Reginald E Reggie Martin, September 23, 1923 — March 22, 2019

Reginald E. “Reggie” Martin, age 95, of Madison, WV passed away peacefully on Friday, March 22, 2019. He was born in Madison, WV on September 23, 1923 to Joe “Speed” Martin and his beloved mother, Marie Price Martin-Butcher. Those preceded him in death are his parents; brother, Bob Martin; sister, Betty Martin Gillenwater; and nephew, Bill Gillenwater.

Reggie was a World War II veteran and was very proud of his military service in the Navy where he achieved the rank of 2nd Class Petty Officer. He served as a radioman using Morse Code aboard several ships. Reggie was injured when the ship he was on took a direct hit from a Kamikaze airplane.

He was awarded the “Purple Heart” medal, as well as many other service medals. Reggie moved to California a short time after he was discharged from the Navy in December of 1948. He and his mother lived in Norwalk, California for almost thirty years where the door was always open to family and friends who came to visit.

Reggie spent his career working as a shipping clerk for Western Car Loading Freight Company in Los Angeles, California. He retired in 1979 and he and his mother moved back to West Virginia in December of that same year. Reggie loved the game of golf and was an avid player.

He also enjoyed fishing in the rivers around the Madison area. He liked to play bingo and he spent a lot of time playing the slot machines. Reggie’s mind remained sharp to the very end; and he could recite dates and times of events in his life as if it had only been a short time ago.

Those left to cherish his memory are nephews, Roger Gillenwater of Foster, WV, David Martin of Las Vegas, NV; niece, Claudia Greear of Brunswick, OH; special cousins, JoAnn Harmon and Sylvia Clark of Madison, WV; sister-in-law, Cheryl Martin of Las Vegas, NV; and a host of other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday, March 25 at Handley Funeral Home in Danville, WV with the Reverend Tom Bias officiating. The family will receive friends and family one hour before the service.

Burial will follow at Boone Memorial Park in Madison with Military Honors by Daniel Boone VFW Post 5578 of Madison, WV. The family would like to extend a heart-felt thank you to the staff at Hillcrest Health Care Center in Danville, WV for their care and devotion to Reggie during his stay at that facility. They truly made him feel special and loved and we appreciate everything that was done for him.

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