Harry Pugh Martin, 93

March 30, 2015

Harry Pugh Martin of Denton, MD, died Monday, March 30, 2015, at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. He was 93.

Born August 28, 1921 in Audenried, PA, to Samuel Jennings and Elizabeth Minerva Miller Martin, Harry was a graduate of Hazelton High School in Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1942, serving as a tail gunner/radioman in a Dauntless dive bomber as a part of Marine Squadron VMSB – 235, and participated in campaigns at Guadalcanal, New Georgia, Bougainville and New Hebrides. He was a master sergeant when honorably discharged in 1946. On November 10, 2010, he was humbly recognized as the ”oldest Marine” present and given the first piece of cake during the Marine Corps birthday ceremony at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Virginia.

He married Ida Marie Curcio on June 28, 1945. They had two children, Mary Beth and Harry. The Martins resided in Quarryville and Lancaster, PA, and Harry worked as a mechanic for the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) for 33 years. He was an avid fisherman and bowler for many years, an avid reader, and enjoyed many sports. He was a kind and gentle man with a great sense of humor, and was loved by not only his immediate family, but also by his many nieces, nephews, and friends of his children. Ida and Harry built a house to retire in Denton in 1997 and, up until last month, he still enjoyed cutting his grass, working in his garage, driving for groceries, and eating and joking at numerous family gatherings.

He is survived by Ida, his wife of almost 70 years; his son Harry and wife Lisa of Denton; his son-in-law Jack Headley and wife Tessie of Landisville, PA; his brother Timothy Martin; his grandchildren Kerry Headley of Portland, OR; Alice Headley and wife Emily Pirkle of Portland, OR; Jack Brendan Headley and wife Kristen of Jackson, NJ; Katie Curtin and husband Jason of Denton; and Jennifer Martin and fiancé Johnny Fissinger of Chesterbrook, PA; as well as seven great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

He was pre-deceased by his daughter, Mary Beth Headley, on March 23, 1988, and his 96-year-old sister, Elise Walk, on Friday, March 20, 2015.

Friends may call Monday, April 6, 2015 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. at Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home & Crematory, 441 North George Street, Millersville, PA 17551, followed by a brief service at 1 p.m. Graveside prayers and military honor guard at the St. Joseph’s New Catholic Cemetery in Lancaster, PA will follow. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, VA through the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation at www.marineheritage.org.