Ralph P. Martin

Ralph Pinkney Martin was born on February 3, 1925 to Lola and Claude Martin in Gastonia, North Carolina. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1943 to 1946 including combat duty in the Pacific during World War II. Upon his return, Ralph attended Belmont Abbey College and the University of Tennessee. After college Ralph joined the General Motors Corporation and was eventually transferred to Atlanta, GA where he met and married Helen Smith Martin in 1953, who predeceased him in 2015. They moved to Jacksonville, FL where they lived for a number of years before returning to Atlanta for the rest of their lives. Ralph’s career at General Motors spanned over 30 years where he was a “GM” man through and through. His love of automobiles was not just a job but his passion and hobby. Ralph was an active member of Dunwoody United Methodist Church. He enjoyed helping others as his lifelong ministry, devoting himself and volunteering to many church activities including ushering for Sunday services, supporting the management of church vehicles, Christmas tree sales, treasurer of his Sunday School class and Bereavement Committee participant. In addition, Ralph enjoyed helping his neighbors and his neighborhoods anyway possible. Ralph spent much time with his two grandsons and his granddaughter to whom he passed on much knowledge. Ralph is survived by two sisters, Molly Parker (Ken Parker) and Jacqueline Holbrook of Gastonia, NC; brother, C. Murphy Martin of Ponte Vedra, FL; son Ralph P. Martin, Jr. (Bonnie Martin) of Sandy Springs, GA; daughter, Laura Martin Murphy (Charles C. Murphy, Jr.) of Atlanta, GA; two grandsons, Ross Martin, and Charlie Murphy, and one granddaughter, Elizabeth Martin, all of Atlanta, GA. He will be greatly missed. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Dunwoody United Methodist Church. Services will be private at a later date.