Harry Edward "Ed" Martin

Ed was born July 30, 1943 in Ottawa, KS to Harry William and Helen Lucile Martin. He was the great-grandson of famed ‘Tall Tale Postcard’ creator William Harrison “Dad” Martin. He graduated from Ottawa High School in 1961 and attended the University of Kansas, where he was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Zoology in 1965.

He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Missouri- Kansas City in 1969. Following dental school, Ed proudly served his country as a captain in the US Air Force Dental Corps from 1969 - 1972 at the Howard Air Force base in the Panama Canal Zone. After receiving an honorable discharge, he returned to UMKC to receive his Master of Science in Pediatric Dentistry and complete his residency at Children’s Mercy Hospital, where he later continued his association by serving on its staff. He established his private dental practice in Overland Park, KS in 1974 and devoted himself to generations of patients for forty years until retiring in 2014.

Dr. Martin was involved with several professional organizations, including the American Dental Association, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (where he served on the Clinical Affairs Committee), and he was Board Certified by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. He was a past president of the Kansas Society of Dentistry For Children, a member and past president of the Fifth District Dental Society of Kansas - from whom he received a distinguished service award in 1979 - and past president of the Southwestern Society of Pediatric Dentistry. He was also a member of the Kansas Dental Association and the Kansas Foundation for the Handicapped. He earned the honor of being named a Fellow of the American College of Dentists in 1998. He was actively involved in his community and served on the board of many organizations, including the Alice Berry Graham Associates at Children’s Mercy Hospital.

He was a man of many talents and interests including skiing, fly fishing, traveling, jazz piano, KU basketball, the Kansas City Chiefs, good cuisine and wine. He was also disciplined with his daily fitness routine and always looked forward to seeing his friends at the gym. A Corvette enthusiast, Ed loved attending and competing in regional and national Corvette shows as well as participating in cross-country Corvette cruises. Never a stranger to anyone, he made new friends wherever he went and he was a generous and loyal friend.

Ed married the love of his life and high school sweetheart, Judith (nee Lister) Martin, on August 31, 1968. They were married for 55 years and raised two daughters, Allison and Lauren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, John Ross Martin, his niece, Shannon Lucile Martin; brother-in-law, Ed Lister; and his nephew, Douglas Ericsson. He is survived by his wife, Judith; his daughters, Allison and Lauren, and their husbands, William Stone and Javier Zumaeta; his sister-in-law, Patricia Podmajersky; and his loving nieces and nephew and their families.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Children’s Mercy Hospital. Condolences may be sent online to the Harry Edward Martin Dignity Memorial.

A Celebration of Life reception will be held on Sunday, April 7th from 3:00-6:00pm at Isinglass Estate in LaCygne, KS.