Paul Martin

Paul William Martin, 79, passed away Wednesday, July 2, 2003, at his home in Cape Girardeau.

He was born March 12, 1924, at Cameron, W.Va., the son of William H. and Lenore Kinney Martin. On May 13, 1949, he and Marcella Schmitke were married. She survives.

Other loving survivors include two sons, Thomas Martin and his wife Ann of Maryland and James Martin and his wife Debbie of Grays Lake, Ill.; three daughters, Paula Rahm and her husband Fred of Las Vegas, Nev., Pam Lewis and her husband Greg of Jackson and Linda Rapp of St. Charles; a brother, Robert Martin and his wife Olive of Washington, Penn.; one sister-in-law, Delores Martin of Moundsville, W.Va.; eight grandchildren, Anna Marie Beard, Paul Thomas O'Brien, Andrew Martin Rapp, James Vincent Rapp, Elizabeth Ann Martin, Kathryn Rose Martin, Paul Thomas Martin and Megan Leigh Martin, and a special friend, Tom O'Brien of Scott City.

Paul was preceded in death by one brother, Keith Martin.

Paul was a veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 until is retirement in 1967. He was an administrator for Clarks Mountain Nursing Facility in Piedmont from 1969 to 1971 and later served as hospital administrator for the Missouri State Chest Hospital in Mount Vernon, Mo.

He was an avid hunter and fisherman who enjoyed the outdoors. He loved walking and exercising his dogs, many of which were named Sam.

Paul was a member of the Elks Lodge at Bismarck, N.D., and attended the Hobbs Chapel United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau.

There will be a graveside service with a military honor guard service at 11 a.m. today at Hobbs Chapel Cemetery. The Rev. Janet Hopkins will officiate.

Arrangements by McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Hobbs Chapel Cemetery or the American Diabetes Association.