Harold M. Martin

CROGHAN, NY ~ Harold M. Martin, 85, formerly of 6881 Shady Avenue, Croghan, died Friday, March 2, 2012 at Lewis County General Hospital, Lowville, following a lengthy illness.
Harold was born on November 4, 1926, in Croghan, the son of the late David and Edith Bush Martin.  He was a 1944 graduate of Fr. Leo Memorial School in Croghan.
Following his graduation, on November 8, 1944, he enlisted in the United States Navy and attended Basic Training in Sampson, NY.  Following his training, he was assigned to the USS Augusta (CA31), a heavy cruiser and Flag Ship of the Asiatic and North Atlantic Fleet.  The Augusta was the ship on which the North Atlantic Charter was signed and also the ship that transported President Harry S. Truman to the Potsdam Conference.  Harold was proud to be a member of the ship’s company on the voyage with President Truman.  He was honorably discharged from the US Navy on July 11, 1946, at Lido Beach, LI, NY, as Yeoman 3rd Class.

Harold married Suzanne Powers of Croghan on July 22, 1961, at St. Stephen’s Church in Croghan, with Rev. Reginald Baliman, OFM, officiating.  Suzanne died on April 16, 2003.

He was employed as an accountant for Wm. Burkhard & Sons in Croghan for 18 years and then worked for Boise Cascade Corporation in Beaver Falls, retiring as its Sales Production Coordinator on February 28, 1989, after 20 years of service. For several years, he was also a member of the staff at Scanlon Funeral Home in Croghan and Harrisville.

Harold was a life-long communicant of St. Stephen’s Church and had served as a Church Lector and Eucharistic Minister for many years.  He also served as the Secretary/Treasurer for St. Stephen’s Cemetery Association for 29 years before retiring in July 1988.  Additionally, he served as the Croghan Village Clerk and Village Trustee for several years.

Harold was a member of the American Legion, Beaver River Memorial Post #1663, in Croghan.
Surviving are three step-sons, Keith J. (June)Powers of Rochester, John L. Powers of Watertown and Robert J. (JoAnne) Powers of Spencerport; 8 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.

Besides his wife, he was predeceased by his sister, Mildred Chartrand, who died on September 4, 1990, and his step-daughter-in-law, Dorris Powers, who died in 2009.

Harold’s funeral will be held on Monday, beginning with a 10:45 a.m. prayer service at the Scanlon Funeral Home, 9791 Main St., Croghan, followed by an 11:30 a.m. funeral Mass from St. Stephen’s Church, with the Rev. Daniel L. Chapin, pastor, officiating.

Calling hours will be on Sunday from 4:00 p.m. ~ 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Cremation will follow the Funeral Mass with his interment taking place later in the spring with Military Honors in St. Stephen’s Cemetery, Croghan.

In lieu of flowers, in his memory, memorial contributions made be made to a charity of one’s choice.

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