Bob Martin

April 23rd, 1932 - February 5th, 2017

 

Robert "Bobo" Martin, 85, of Okemos and on Elk Lake, passed away Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017. He was born on April 23, 1931 in New Brighton, Pennsylvania, to Everett and Dorothy Martin.

He graduated Cuyahoga Falls High School in 1948, where he played center on the football team and was elected president of his senior class. Bobo attended Michigan State College (University) in 1948, graduating in 1952. During his college years he was a member of the football (#73) team, he lettered in track and was a member of the ROTC and Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity. He was a Life Member of the Varsity Alumni Club (#19134) as well as MSU Alumni Association and the President's Club. An avid supporter of MSU, he held season tickets for football, basketball and hockey for 57 years.

After graduation Bob entered the United States Air Force as a Lieutenant, serving until 1954. As part of his duties, he was in charge of the Officers Club on base. He returned to the Detroit area, where he worked for Bell Telephone Co.

He met and married Audrey Richards. They moved to East Lansing in 1956, where Bob began his distinguished career in the wholesale lumber industry as a salesman for Schultz, Snyder & Steele Wholesale Lumber Co. He traveled the highways in northern Michigan, turning customers into lasting friendships. He became sales manager advancing to executive vice president and general manager. In 1975 Bob and Bill Sheathelm purchased the company from the Schultz family, and Bob became CEO. Bob and Bill consistently brought in innovative ideas and products to become one of the largest independent building materials distributors in the Midwest.

In 1995 SS&S merged with NorPac, expanding their boundaries from coast to coast across the United States. He was an active member of the National Building Materials Distributors Association, serving on the executive board for three years and then president from 1979 to 1980. He was awarded Lumberman of the Michigan Lumber Retailers.

Bob retired in 1996 after a job well done. He was very involved in the community, serving on the YMCA Board and was Metro Board president from 1977 to 1978. He was MSU Hockey Blue Line Club president from 1976 to 1978 and church elder from 1998 to 2000. He enjoyed planting rose gardens at the Capitol building, and crewed in five Mackinaw races. Bob had a passion for life and an ease of making friends wherever he went.

Retirement years were spent traveling abroad, sailing in the Caribbean and spending summers at Elk Lake, sailing on East Bay with family and friends and tending his gardens that were the envy of many gardeners. He was known to take some "cocktail sails" on calmer days.

Bob was preceded to heaven by his parents and daughter, Julie Eileen (1992).
He is survived by his wife, Audrey; daughters, Patricia Whitener and Pamela (Mike) Knowles; son, David Martin; grandchildren, Laura (Nick) Mantzoros, Elise Whitener, Beth Whitener, Kelsey Knowles and Jack Knowles; and his faithful canine companion, Reilly. Also surviving are sisters, Barbara Cross, of Avon Lake, Ohio, and Lois Ann (Ben) Bronfman, of Portland, Oregon; and several nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to lovingly thank Molly Nevins, his devoted caregiver who always came in with a big smile and lots of energy.

Memorial services will be held at People's Church, East Lansing, on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017 at 2 p.m., with a reception at the church to follow. A Delta Sigma Phi Bond Eternal Ceremony will take place immediately following in the front of the Church.  Family and friends are welcome to witness.  At a later date there will be a service at the Elk Lake home. A notice will be published in the Record-Eagle of Traverse City.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the YMCA Metro, 119 North Washington Square, Lansing, MI 48933; or to The People's Church.  Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.greastlansing.com.
 

The family is being served by Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, East Chapel.