John E. Martin

A man of faith, John Elvin Martin went home to be with his Lord and Savior on December 15, 2011. He was born December 22, 1943 in Centralia, Washington to parents Elvin L. Martin and Harriet F. Lee Martin. His father served as a medic in Europe and was killed on the battlefield in November 1944. John was raised in Centralia and Vancouver, Washington.

He began his adult life by enlisting in the U. S. Army at the age of 17. He served as a medic, just like his father, and was stationed in Germany. Upon being discharged from the service, John spent several years traveling the United States using unconventional means of transportation, such as hopping freight trains and hitchhiking.

It was on one such adventure that he arrived in Florida and found lodging at a Salvation Army Mission where he accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior. It was this experience that began the process where he became a man of faith.

John’s graduate school for faith was in Crawfordsville, Oregon, where he purchased an acre of land from his grandfather and built a home believing that God would provide all the materials. Again in John’s unconventional and adventurous fashion, this home did not have the modern conveniences of electricity or modern plumbing. He cooked his meals on a wood cook stove and heated the house with wood heat. It was during this time that he learned to hear the voice of God and to obey what he heard. John enjoyed sharing many of his stories from this experience.

John met the love of his life, Rose in 1988. John and Rose were married on August 10, 1990. When John married Rose, he inherited a full family with three grown daughters and his grandchildren whom he enjoyed and loved.

Through the years, John had worked in various jobs. Often he worked in tree planting operations and various jobs that would allow him to work outdoors. John also enjoyed cooking, and worked as a cook, again preferably in an outdoor environment such as logging camps or tree planting camps.

It was one such job in March 1995, when John went to Alaska to work in a logging camp. When he was there, he became sick and came back home to Oregon to learn that he had kidney disease and this illness led to full kidney failure. He was on kidney dialysis for 16 ½ years and went three times a week to the VA Hospital for dialysis. Again in true John fashion, he embraced his disease as an opportunity rather than a hindrance and would often share his faith with those around him.

John was always optimistic that he would be healed. He was hopeful for a kidney transplant and although his health issues did not end up allowing this to happen, he always remained optimistic and believed. It was his strong faith that carried him through.

Survivors include his wife Rose of 21 years, his step-daughters, Karen Painter, Suvannah Moss, and Luella Dwyer all of Portland, Oregon and four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Arrangements under the direction of Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, Portland, OR.