Norman was born January 2, l927 to Lula and Ezra Martin, and grew up on a farm in the Stotesbury and Richards, Missouri area. He attended school in Stotesbury along with 11 other students (grades 1 through 12 in the same room) and graduated in 1945. While there, Norman also met and eventually married his high school sweetheart - Ruby Wagner. Norman was drafted into the Army Air Corp in 1945 and served until discharged in 1946. They lived in Fort Scott, Kansas where he began a long career as an auto body repairman. They then moved to Clinton, Iowa for several years before moving to Independence, Missouri. He subsequently started and operated his own business for several years - Norm’s Automotive, located at the northeast corner of Lees’ Summit Road and 23rd street (currently occupied by a Walgreens). He was a very capable automotive repairman as well as a builder – extensively modifying and/or expanding several homes over the years. After Ruby passed away in 2008, he later met and married Vera Brock. Norman and Vera met at the Palmer Senior center, where they continued to be regulars until it closed in March.
Norman was a wonderful, loving father and grandfather who was very grateful for his entire family. He is survived by loved ones who will dearly miss him: his wife, Vera; his sons, Larry Martin, Tony Martin, and Mike Martin, his step-children that he thought of as his own, Debby Linneman, David Brock, Carol Stegeman, and Linda Jennings, 13 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild and other extended family members and friends.
A private memorial will be held for the family.
Donations in Norman’s memory may be made to:
Immanuel Baptist Church, Independence, MO
Or
Pleasant Grove Bible Church, Kansas City, MO
