Funeral Service is scheduled for 11 AM Monday June 25, 2012 at the Little-Davenport Chapel with the Rev. Mike Taylor officiating, interment will follow in the Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 pm and 6 to 8 pm Sunday June 24, 2012 at the funeral home.
Wade Hampton Martin passed away quietly at his home on 6/22/12. He was preceded in death by his parents, Luther Ray "Luke" and Bessie Martin; his wife , Eunice Jones Martin; brothers, Clay, James and Marvin Martin and sister Rowena Smith Drake.
Wade was born in Hall County and lived on a farm until joining the United States Army at age nineteen. He was stationed in Ft. Benning, Ga. where he was a member of the 41st Armored Infantry of the 2nd Armored Division. He trained under General George S. Patton in WWII and fought in North Africa, the Island of Sicily, spent time in England, was involved in the invasion of France including the break out of Normandy into Belgium, Holland into Germany, and then back to Belgium to fight in the Battle of the Bulge. He was wounded twice - once in France and once in the Battle of the Bulge and received a Purple Heart, Oak Leaf cluster, Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Rifleman Badge, label button, Europe ribbons, Africa-Middle Eastern Theater ribbon, and five Bronze Stars. A story he liked to tell was that due to all the officials leaving the area, he was appointed "Mayor" of a little town in Germany for a while, just before being discharged home.
He 'retired' from the service in 1945 as a Technical Sergeant.
Upon returning home from the war, Wade met and married Eunice Jones and they had a good 55 years together. He went to Technical School and become a carpenter and built many homes around the Gainesville area. After retiring in 1985, he and Eunice did a lot of traveling, fishing, flower gardening and enjoying the grandchildren. He faithfully looked after Eunice for many years as she declined with Alzheimer's Disease.
Wade H. is survived by his daughters and sons in law, Wada and Terry Stafford, Sheila and Chuck Dufford, and son and daughter in law, Bradley and Jackie Martin; Grandchildren, Craig and Stephanie Stafford, Byron and Darla Stafford, Kimberly and Herb Henderson, Kristin Martin, Justin Dozier, and Laura Dozier; Great-grandchildren, Brooke and Katie Stafford, B.C. and Aaron Stafford, Amanda and Jonathan Freeman and Carson Dozier; Great-great-grandchildren, Kelton, Malachi and Kahlia Stafford all of Gainesville.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the building fund of Chestatee Baptist Church c/o Arlen Pirkle, 4872 Mt. Vernon Rd., Gainesville, Ga. 30506.
Those wishing may send online condolences to www.littledavenport.com
Little & Davenport Funeral Home, 355 Dawsonville Hwy. Gainesville, GA 30501. 770-534-5201
