Obituary

Norman G. Martin

June 12, 1925–October 18, 2020

Norman Glenn Martin passed away at home with his son and daughter at his side on October 18, 2020, in Lewiston, Id. He was 95 years YOUNG. Norman's home had been in Pomeroy, Wash., for 63 years, but he recently had moved to Lewiston.

Norm was born in Potlatch, Id., to Lora and Floyd Martin on June 12, 1925 and he joined two brothers, Gerald and Don. Four years later Max was born, but six months after that, the boys lost their mother. Floyd and the four boys moved to Dayton, Wash., where the grandparents helped raise the four boys with their father.

The boys were raised in Dayton and Norm enlisted in the Navy in June, 1943, and spent his time during WWII on the USS Pamenset, an oil refueling tanker in the Pacific. The Pamenset refueled over 600 ships and traveled over 56,000 miles during the war.

Norm returned from the war in June, 1946, and continued school and graduated from Dayton High School. Shortly after graduation, he met Neva Hatfield and they were married on June 8, 1947. They were married for 69 years before her death in 2016. They had two children, Lora and Phil.

Norm worked in the grocery business after graduating from High School, and in January, 1956, the family moved to Pomeroy to join his brother Don in the grocery business; they opened People's Market together on Main Street. It burned in 1964 and they built a new store, the Super Duper, which is now known as Family Foods.

Norm sold his half of the grocery business to Don's son (his nephew Dick) in 1970, and started a paint contracting business. He and Neva moved to a small farm (their "zoo" as they called it) outside of town where they spent the best 20 years of their life.

Norm was active in the community throughout his lifetime. He was a Boy Scout leader, member of Chamber of Commerce and JayCees. For many years he volunteered at the Garfield County Food Bank, then became manager. At 85, he retired from the Food Bank but remained on the board. Norm volunteered his time, along with brother Don, for flipping pancakes at the Cowboy Breakfast for thirty years. He never knew a stranger, and will always be remembered for volunteering his time to help anyone, and whistling while he worked.

His greatest joy was his family and spending time with his grandchildren at the "zoo," and his great grandchildren.

His is survived by his son Phil, daughter Lora, three grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren. Preceding him in death were his wife Neva, granddaughter Helen, and all of his brothers.

Norm requested a military send-off, but because of COVID-19 and the changing weather, the service will be postponed until Spring.

The family requests memorials to be sent to the Garfield County Food Bank, P O Box 15, Pomeroy, WA 99347.