Mervin Lee Martin

Mervin L. Martin was born, May 3, 1931, on a farm a few miles from the town of Bazaar, Kansas, to parents Louise and Webb Martin. He passed away at his home in Belmont Village on December 28, 2020. Mervin was the sixth of seven children. Growing up, the family worked on several farms, including a dairy farm, in Chase County Kansas. Grades one through five Mervin attended a one-room schoolhouse, before moving closer to Clements, Kansas, and, finishing at Clements Grade and High School.

After high school, Mervin joined the US Navy, and proudly served his country as a Disbursing Clerk aboard the U.S.S. Prairie in the Korean War. He received the Navy Good Conduct Medal for staying up all night completing payroll records for a crew of sailors that had their minesweeper shot out from under them.

After the Navy Mervin used his GI Bill to attend the University of Kansas, graduating with his BS in Business, Accounting. He was a proud Jayhawk, and followed KU’s basketball team every season. He was a member of Sigma Pi Fraternity. Mervin went on to earn his Master’s in Business Administration from Wichita State, and passed his certified public accountancy (CPA) exam in both Kansas and later on in California.

In June of 1959 Mervin went on a blind date with a young teacher, named Kathleen Buttry. The pair hit it off, and were married on April 16, 1960. Fifteen months later they welcomed their first child; and in 1964 moved to San Diego, CA where they had two more children. They enjoyed 59 years of marriage before Kathleen’s passing in September, 2019. Mervin worked as a CPA for over 40 years and in his spare time enjoyed all things baseball. He sponsored several University City Little League teams in the latter 1970’s to mid-80’s. Although a St. Louis Cardinal’s fan, he was also a season ticket holder to the Padres - that is until the MLB players went on strike in 1994.

Mervin is survived by his younger brother Robert Martin, in Anthony, KS; daughter DeAnn and her husband Henry and their two sons Michael (wife Kendra) and Kevin Schwartz; daughter Sheryl and her husband Andy and their daughter Jami Plumley; son Glenn and his wife Lisa and their children Alexander and Jacquelyn Martin; as well as several nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.

An outdoor memorial service is planned for Saturday, January 23rd, at 12 noon, at El Camino Memorial – 5600 Carroll Canyon Road, San Diego, CA. Service will take place at the Veteran’s Memorial monument.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to the American Diabetes Association (diabetes.org), or a charity with special meaning for you.

The family would like to express its sincere appreciation to Belmont Village Sabre Springs, Seniors Helping Seniors and Calstro Hospice.