John Martin

John Stewart Benjamin "Papa" Martin III, 64, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Oct. 22, 2004, at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

He was born March 14, 1940, in Pittsburgh, Pa., son of John Stewart and Helen Baker Martin. He married Zoia Ava Watkins.

Martin moved to Cape Girardeau in 1978, and was a member of Second Missionary Baptist Church. He was formerly of Pulaski, Ill.

He attended the Art Institute in Indiana and Southeast Missouri State University. He was an announcer with WKRO Radio in Cairo, Ill., in the 1970s. He had worked for United States Steel and was a past union president. He retired from Southeast Hospital.

Survivors include his wife; three sons, John Martin IV and Christopher Martin of Cape Girardeau, Michael Martin of Pittsburgh; a daughter, Lois Hancock of Pittsburgh; two sisters, Margaret Hurt and Catherine Strider of Pittsburgh; two brothers, James Martin of Augusta, Ga., Benjamin Martin of Philadelphia, Pa.; 10 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three sons and a daughter.

Friends may call from 11 a.m. to service time Friday at Second Missionary Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Friday at the church, with the Rev. Marco Greer officiating. Burial will be private at Henderson Cemetery in Pulaski.