IN MEMORIAM
Donald B. Martin, 82, Bloomville;
Active In State, National Ag Policy
BLOOMVVILLE – Donald B. Martin, 82, two-term Farm Bureau president and a founder of the Atlantic Diarymen who was active in state and national farm policy, passed away at his home on June 27, 2019, surrounded by his loving family.
Born on Oct. 11, 1936, he was the son of the late Wendell and Elisabeth (Sackett) Martin. He married to his wife of 62 years, Juanita Graig Martin, on Oct. 7, 1956.
Donald owned and operated Prairie Hill Farm for over 30 years, retiring from farming in 1986. He spent his entire life on the farm, even passing in the very room where he was born.
He served two terms as president of the Farm Bureau in the ’80s and remained active in local politics that represented the rural farms and farmers on both the local and national level. Mr. Martin traveled to Washington D.C. to meet with Agriculture committee members of the House and Senate to present “The Martin Plan,” and was a founding member of the Atlantic Dairymen, a dairy advocate group.
As Town of Kortright highway superintendent, he built strong friendships with the men he worked with. He was always first to serve his community by helping a neighbor in need and always opening his doors to the stream of friends brought home by his children. He and his wife created a fun, welcoming place for all.
He was a member of the Bloomville Fire Department in his younger years and spent his evenings gathering with cousins, uncles and friends to play Pinochle. He spent his retirement years roaming the farm on his Gator and working on his Oliver 1650, OC-6 Crawler, and Super88 Industrial.
Besides his parents, Donald was predeceased by his siblings: Betty, Frank, James, David, Stan, and Jerry.
He is survived by his wife: Juanita Martin of Bloomville; six children: Wendy (John) Every of Wisconsin, Cheri (Tom) Vroman of Hamden, Robin (Thomas) Magnan of Bloomville, Meg (Timothy) Donahue of Hartwick, Amanda Martin of Bloomville and Donald (Bridget) Martin of Bloomville; 22 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren; a brother: Wendell Martin; sister: Jeanne Pittenger; many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Donald’s funeral will be at 3:30 p.m.., Friday, July 19, at the Bloomville Methodist Church,
Contributions in memory of Donald may be made to Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care at www.cahpc.org
Arrangements are with the Hall & Peet Funeral Home, Delhi.
