Ronald W. Martin

Ronald W. Martin, 87, of East Moline, Illinois, died Monday, November 25, 2024, at Resthave Care & Rehabilitation, Morrison, Illinois.

Services are 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 30, in the Horizon Room at Trimble Funeral Home at Trimble Pointe, 701 12th Street, Moline. Visitation is from 9:00 a.m. until time of services. Private burial is in Rock Island National Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Land of Lincoln Honor Flight. 

Ronald Wayne Martin was born May 28, 1937, in Burlington, Iowa, the son of Willard and Genevieve Beatrice (Miller) Martin. He graduated from Savanna Township High School in 1955, where he earned varsity letters in track, football and basketball. He proudly served in the U.S. Air Force for 4 years, spending over two years at Nouasseur Air Base in Morocco. 

He had two ladies in his life – his high school sweetheart, Marcia Scott, whom he married on December 21, 1958, in Rock Island, and spent 34 happy years with until her passing on January 26, 1992, and his beloved, longtime friend and companion of 17 years, Kathy Snyder, who passed away in July of 2022.

Ron worked at Farmall Tractor Plant in Rock Island from 1959 until its closing. He then was employed at Bandag Corp until retiring in 1992. He was ordained to the ministry in the Community of Christ in 1980, being superannuated 2003 and continued to serve in a limited capacity thereafter.

He enjoyed hunting and fishing, and was an avid fast-pitch softball player, playing in city leagues in Moline and Rock Island, winning titles for highest batting average and most home runs. He placed 2nd place in the USAFE tournament in Lakenheath, England with the Nouasseur AFB team in 1957, and later finished 1st in the Air Force World Wide tournament in Maxwell AFB, Alabama, with the MacDill AFB team in 1958. 

Ron is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Jeffry and Carol Martin of Davenport, and Bret and Annetta Martin of Mustang, Oklahoma; six grandchildren, Jonathan (Daria) Sutton, Jeremy Sutton, Joshua (Julie) Sutton, Britney (Hunter) Baldwin, Brandie (fiancé Collin Wood) Martin, and Heather (Chris) Foree; and nine great-grandchildren, Isaiah, Janessa, Micaiah, Ella, Chloe, Caleb, Eza, Amelia, and Emma. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Marcia Martin; and a sister, Marjorie Hounsell.

The family invites friends to share stories and condolences at TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.