George G. Martin, Jr. ’50

George G. Martin Jr. died on March 14, 2014. He was 85.

George was born in Auburn, Me., and attended Auburn schools. He graduated from the Maine Maritime Academy in 1950, at which time he was called into the Navy as an ensign, then lieutenant junior grade. He served on several minesweepers during the Korean War. In 1952, George and Shirley Van Ham were married. They had a son, John Whitman Martin of St. Louis, Mo., and a daughter, Melissa Mae Gurganus of Norfolk, Va.

After leaving the Navy, George took a job in Atlanta, Ga., where he was a mortgage banker and real estate broker, and started his company Guardian Mortgage Corp.

In 1985 he retired and moved to Martha’s Vineyard where he was able to enjoy his love of sailing. He and Shirley moved to The Villages in 2001. George had many interests including Kiwanis International, in which he was the Georgia governor from 1980 to 1981; the Masons, in which he served as Massachusetts district deputy to the grand master from 1990 to 1991, and the Boys and Girls Club, both in Atlanta and on Martha’s Vineyard. He was a member of the board of directors for the Edgartown National Bank and was elected as selectman in Oak Bluffs.

George was a member of New Covenant United Methodist Church where he served in many capacities. George was deeply loved by his family and was admired and loved by everyone who knew him.

The Nepture Society is handling his arrangements and he will be interred in the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Fla. If desired, donations in his memory may be made to New Covenant United Methodist Church, Cornerstone Hospice in The Villages, Shriners Children’s Hopsital, or your choice of charity.