It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that our Columbus Base shipmate Charles E. "Chuck" Martin departed on Eternal Patrol on Monday July 6th.
Chuck joined the United States Navy in 1952. He qualified in 1956 aboard USS Pomfret SS-391, and also served aboard USS Nautilus SSN-571, USS Finback SSN-670, and USS Daniel Webster SSBN-626. He retired as ETCM (SS) in 1975
Chuck was a Life Member of USSVI, Columbus Base, and Ponce De Leon Base... and a former member of Peoria Base. He was "recruited" to Columbus Base by Phil Philipps in late 2006... when Phil was recruiting all of his old Peoria Base shipmates to join Columbus. At the time, Chuck lived just across the Ohio River in West Virginia. He later moved to Lake Helen, Florida where he joined the Ponce De Leon Base in Daytona Beach. At the time of his passing, Chuck was the Ponce De Leon Base Commander.
Chuck was a member of Holland Club. He was inducted by Peoria Base in 2006, and was presented with his Columbus Base Holland Club plaque in 2007. Chuck was also a life member of the Nautilus Alumni Association. More information, including Chuck's obituary and memorial, will be shared as soon as available.
Charles E. Martin, 85, of Lake Helen, FL, formerly of Huntington, WV, died July 6, 2020 at his home. He was born March 29, 1935 in Huntington, son of the late Harry and Helen Kent Martin. He was a retired Senior Master Chief of the Command from the United States Navy. Master Chief Martin’s memberships include, St. Peters Episcopal Church; the Ceredo Crescent Lodge AF & AM #32; the Scottish Rite of Norfolk, VA; the Khedive Temple of Chesapeake, VA; an associate member of El Hasa Temple of Ashland, KY; the BPOE Elks Lodge #313; The Moose Lodge; the American Legion Post 16 of Huntington; a lifetime member of the VFW of Virginia Beach, VA; and a lifetime member of the Fleet Reserve Association Branch 33 of Fairmont, WV. He is survived by five children and their spouses, Harry C. Martin (Susan) of Casper, WY, Dennese M. Deaton (Douglas) of Chesapeake, OH, Jane C. Gresham of Chesapeake, VA, Russell P. Martin (Debbie) of Dallas,TX, Anita L. Steadman (Brian) of Virginia Beach, VA; one brother, Jerry L. Martin (Barbara) formerly of Proctorville, OH; 8 grandchildren and 14 great-grandkids and one due in September. A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, July 18, 2020 by the Rev. Deborah Rankin at Klingel-Carpenter Mortuary with the United States Navy conducting military rites. The family will receive friends from 10a.m. to 11 a.m. prior to the service Face masks and social distancing will be observed. Memorials should be directed to the Dolphin Submarine Scholarship Fund of Norfolk, VA. Family guestbook at http://www.klingelcarpenter.com/
As is our custom, Columbus Base will donate $100.00 to the USSVI Scholarship Fund in Chuck's memory.
Please keep Chuck's family in your thoughts and prayers.
Sailor, Rest Your Oar.
Tim Barker, Commander, Columbus Base