“Hi! How are you? ” These were the words family & friends would hear every time they saw Virgil Warren Martz, 88 yrs.
who passed into eternal life on May 31, 2018. Born on September 1, 1929 in Kalamazoo, MI to Gail (Glidden) and Vern Martz, Virgil was the third of eight children. He grew up in South Bend but spent many of his childhood summers at his Uncle Bill’s farm in Mattawan, MI where he learned exactly what hard work entailed at a very young age.
Virgil graduated from Adams High School in 1947. Never a selfish person and always wanting to give of himself, he made a pact with five of his high school buddies to join the U.S. Marines upon graduation. Surprisingly, he was the only one that showed up to this appointment!
He was proud to serve our country as a Radio Communications Specialist, being honorably discharged as a WWII veteran with the rank of Corporal. On November 26, 1950, he married the love of his life, Patsy Nivens. He and Patsy shared 60 years together prior to her death in 2011.
Virgil is survived by two sons, Scott (Jeanie) Martz and Randy (Diana) Martz, both of South Bend; three grandchildren, Valerie (Kevin) Lowell of Mishawaka, IN; Nicole (Cameron) Hill of Memphis, TN; and Shaun (Rusty) Martz of Chicago, IL; in addition to two great-grandchildren, Cassidy and Falon. Virgil held many jobs to support his family. After serving his nation, he joined the South Bend Fire Department in 1952.
He was a very proud and sole survivor of the charter members for the South Bend Fire Fighters Credit Union established in 1959. After 21 years of service, he retired from the fire department then joined the ranks of an FAA employee working at the South Bend airport. He also engaged employment as a consultant for Raytheon as well as serving as a bailiff for the St. Joseph County Juvenile Court system.
Virgil loved projects. To each of us, he was a hero in many ways. He taught kindness, with his endless support.
He gave forgiveness, freely. He un–selflessly gave of himself by helping us learn, whether it was to teach a child what ‘on’ and ‘off’ was in way of a light switch, how to make curtain tie–backs out of plastic, how to build decks, or how to put up fences correctly. If anything needed fixing, Virgil was your best friend.
He never wavered to find an ingenious way to assist. We all marveled at his refulness. He was a lifelong fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and stayed true to the team to the end enjoying countless games.
He loved traveling with his family. He truly enjoyed his grandchildren. He would write clues for Easter egg hunts, he set up a volley–ball court, he created a wooden board game similar to Aggravation, he built a garage for Hot Wheels, and he erected multiple swing sets.
Virgil will be remembered lovingly as a great mentor. He was a devoted husband, a terrific father and grandfather, a supportive brother and uncle, and a friend to all. He followed God’s law to do to others as you would have them do unto you, and he shared this with everyone.
He ends his earthly life but is joined in Heaven by those who went before him including his parents; wife Patsy; sister Elizabeth Huber; and brothers Marvin and Larry Martz. Survivors include his sister, Roberta (Lloyd) Griffiths of El Cajon, CA; brothers, John (Betty) Martz of South Bend, IN; Jim (Nancy) Martz of Simi Valley, CA; and Ron (Deborah) Martz of Wake Forest, NC. A memorial service will be held at 6:00 p.m. Monday, June 4 with visitation from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. in the Palmer Funeral Home–Guisinger Chapel, 3718 S. Michigan St., South Bend, IN.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Virgil W. Martz may be made to Alzheimer’s Services, 922 E. Colfax Avenue, South Bend, IN 46617; or Hospice Foundation, 501 Comfort Place, Mishawaka, IN 46545. Online condolences may be left for the Martz family at www. palmerfuneralhomes.com.
Our Heavenly Father opens his arms to his son, Virgil, saying, “Hi! How are you? ” Donations may be made to: Hospice Foundation 501 Comfort Place, Mishawaka IN 46545 Tel: 1-800-467-7423 Web: www.
foundationforhospice.org/giving/giving-options/ Alzheimer’s & Dementia Services of Northern Indiana 922 E. Colfax Avenue ATTN: Pam Huffer, South Bend IN 46617 Tel: 1-574-232-4121 Email: info@alzni.org Web: www.
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