Howard Wesley Martin, 88, of Montpelier, passed away on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2015, at Central Vermont Hospital.
Born in Montpelier on April 2, 1926, he was the son of Elliot D. Martin and Elva Chase. He attended school in Montpelier. After high school, he found a job sanding floors and thought he might be able to make a living from this type of business. Eventually, he bought an old granite shed on River Street and over 20 years converted it to Martin’s Home Center. Martin’s Home Center provided services such as sanding of hardwood floors in both homes and gymnasiums, electrical, plumbing, carpet cleaning and installation of kitchens along with the related sales of carpet, linoleum, ceramic tile, kitchen cabinets and furniture. After selling this business in the 1980s, he continued providing refinishing of hardwood floors and started a distribution business until he retired in 1996.
He married Adena Belville on July 24, 1951, at the Trinity United Methodist Church and lived on East State Street most of his married life.
Howard was a member of the Lion’s Club for over 40 years and a former King Lion. He went through various degrees of the York Rite and Scottish Rite (32 degrees) of the Masonic Temple. He became a mason around 1947 – more than 65 years ago. He has been a member of the Elk’s Club for more than 61 years and a lifetime member of the Canadian Club and a member of the Mutuo Club. Previously, Howard was also a member and president of the Kiwanis Club.
In 1949, Howard became a volunteer ski patroller at Mad River Glen. He holds the record for the longest serving member of the Mad River Ski Patrol. In 1952, he became a member of the National Ski Patrol and in 1960, he was one of three members of the National Ski Patrol from the East accepted to be a volunteer patroller at the 1960 Winter Olympics at Squaw Valley. This was the first time the Olympics allowed volunteer ski patrol to watch over participants. He enjoyed skiing everywhere – Chamonix in France, Val d’Isere in Italy and helicopter skiing in the Bugaboos in British Columbia, to name a few.
He enjoyed softball and played in and sponsored many teams. Hockey, pool and table tennis were also very important parts of Howard’s life.
Survivors include his beloved daughter, Diane Martin-Tryhane and her husband Peter Tryhane, and his grandchildren Wesley Martin Tryhane and Katie Anne Tryhane, all of Stamford, Connecticut. He was predeceased by his wife in October 2014.
Memorial services will take place on Saturday, May 16, at 11 a.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church in Montpelier. Arrangements are being handled by Guare & Sons Funeral Home. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Stark Mountain Foundation (these gifts will be restricted for the Mad River Ski Patrol), P.O. Box 1221, Waitsfield, VT 05673, the Lion’s Club, P.O. Box 211, Barre, VT 05641 or the Barre Elks Lodge #1535 Scholarship Fund, Attn: Secretary, P.O. Box 245, Barre, VT 05641.
