Rev. Walter C. Martin, 94, of Londonderry, NH, died Tuesday December 28, 2010, in Salemhaven Nursing Home in Salem, NH. He was born in Staten Island, NY on March 9, 1916, a son of Drew and Rose (Borth) Martin, and had been a resident of Londonderry since retirement, formerly living in Bogata, NJ. Rev. Martin attended Concordia Lutheran Prep School in Bronxville, NY. He also graduated from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO, and then the Vicarage in Bethesda, MD. Rev. Martin was ordained in Buffalo, NY in 1940. He pastored at Trinity Lutheran in Wellsboro, PA, Trinity Lutheran Bay Ridge in Brooklyn, NY, and Trinity Lutheran in Bogata, NJ. He served as Chaplain at the Brooklyn Veterans Hospital, Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Rev. Martin became the Auxiliary Bishop in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (East Coast Synod) on May 25, 1979. He also received an Honorary Doctoral Degree conferred by Christ Seminary-Seminex. While in NH, he served as Chaplain at SalemHaven Nursing Home in Salem, NH from 1985 to 1999. He enjoyed summering on Newfound Lake in Bridgewater, NH for over 60 years.
He is survived by his wife Persis Martin of Londonderry; two daughters, Eleanor E. Gilder of Port Washington, NY, and Judith Smith of Bridgewater, NH and husband Gregory; two grandchildren, Shane Smith of Amesbury, MA and wife Nicole; and Tracy L. Smith; four great grandchildren, Tyler, Tabor, Morgan, and Cameron; one sister, Elvera Marshhausen of IL; as well as several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his first wife, Eleanor B. Martin.
Calling hours were held on Thursday, December 30th from 6 - 8pm in the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 290 Mammoth Rd., Londonderry. Funeral services were held on Friday at 10:00am in Christ the King Lutheran Church, 3 Lutheran Dr., Nashua, NH 03063. The burial will be in Homeland Cemetery, Bristol, NH in the Spring. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Christ the King Lutheran Church, 3 Lutheran Dr., Nashua, NH 03063, or to Amedisys Hospice, 1 E Commons Drive, Unit 33, Londonderry, NH 03053.