On Tuesday, August 25th, 2020, Charlie (Chuck) Edwin Martin passed away at the age of 84. He was born on December 13, 1935 in Natchitoches, Louisiana to Charlie and Edith (Green) Martin. His childhood years were spent in different cities in Louisiana, but he attended high school in Las Vegas, Nevada, where his dad was working at the time. At the age of 18, he joined the United States Coast Guard and proudly served for 8 years. He learned in those years of service, to always be prepared, a life lesson he tried to instill in others. He was a resident of Terrytown, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans, for 36 years, where he raised his family. Chuck worked in the security business and the oilfield industry in his early years in New Orleans and established his own hot shot and moving businesses.
On Valentine’s Day in 1981, he married Gwen Watson and began their almost 40 years together. For 22 years, they attended the First Pentecostal Church of New Orleans. There he served in many ministries including ushering and hosting the men’s prayer breakfast. In 2003, Gwen’s job with Exxon moved them to the Houston area. Chuck, until the time of his death, and Gwen have been members of the Living Way Church of Conroe, Texas.
Chuck had many loves in his long life. He was a dog-lover and had numerous rescues over the years that became cherished family members. His latest pal, Buddy, is missing his “buddy” terribly. Chuck also loved sports, especially football, baseball, and softball. He spent many years coaching, teaching the game, and encouraging his players to be the best they could be. For several years he coached the Terrytown Rattlers, a youth football team, where many of his kids went on to play high school ball. Chuck was an avid outdoorsman. He was out on the water as often as he could be, fishing, crabbing and gigging flounder. He also loved motorcycles and rode well into his seventies. Chuck loved to talk! He was a great storyteller and could easily start a conversation with anyone near him. He told stories of his life to anyone who would listen and even some who didn’t really want to listen! His stories were of the experiences and people he met in his many jobs, his time in the military, his family, and how the number 13 was significantly woven throughout his life (born on the 13th of December at 4:13am, 13 letters in his name, both parents born in 1913, first son born on 13th of October, and many, many more). He also would talk to folks about the Lord and those conversations always ended with an invitation to church.
Chuck was preceded in death by his father, Charlie; his mother, Edith, and sister, Alice.
He is survived by his loving wife and care-giver of 39 years, Gwen Watson Martin; his sisters, Mary Roberson and Merle Kaderli (Clifton) and his five children, Edith Tranchina (Paul), Ronnie Martin (Samantha), Joed Martin (Diane), Buddy Martin (Laura) and Belinda Ganson (Les). He is also survived by his 14 grandchildren, Andrey (Andrea), Brooke (Fred), Candace (John), Mindy (Chip), Madison, Shane, Ashlyn, Jared (Erika), Haley, Ian, Lanie, Lexie, Sydney and Leland; his 10 great grandchildren, Kai, Eliana, Adeline, Alden, Evan, Blake, Ethan, Kaylee, Cruz, and Cami, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family will receive friends for a visitation from 12:00 p.m. until 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 5, 2020 and a service to begin at 1:00 p.m. at Living Way Church, 2200 Longmire Road, Conroe, Texas. Interment will follow at Macedonia Cemetery, 26000 Springer, Cemetery Rd., Hockley, Texas 77447.
n lieu of flowers, Chuck requested that donations be made to Living Way Church to be dedicated to foreign missions. The family requests that all visitors please wear their masks and practice social distancing for everyone’s benefit and safety. Arrangements have been entrusted to Claire Brothers Funeral Home, 7901 Hillcroft Street, Houston, Texas 77081.
Published online on September 3, 2020, courtesy of Claire Brothers Funeral Home