In Loving Memory of Arnold Martin

Today, family and friends gathered to honor the life of Arnold Martin, 85 years young, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, an entrepreneur, the father of three daughters, step-father of three more children, and "adopted" father of four others, grandfather to 24 young people and great-grandfather to six children.  The flag on Arnold's casket was removed and folded by members of the United States Marine Corps and was presented to Arnold's widow, Barbara Martin, by his grandson Dillon Hayes, Airman First Class with the United States Air Force.

"I won't try to idealize my Pa," his grandson Marcus Rodriguez told friends and family about his very colorful grandfather. Those who knew him may not have always considered him verbally articulate, "but my Pa communicated a very articulate message with his life," Marcus said.  "Our family motto was 'We are blessed to be a blessing.'" His Pa taught the family to be "channels of blessing, not reservoirs," Marcus said.

Arnold's granddaughter, Meredith Rodriguez, who flew in from Shanghai, China, for the funeral, remembers a time when her grandfather lost $2 million in a business deal in one day.  "He laid his head down on his pillow--and slept soundly that night," she said.  "He said, 'I figured God didn't want me to have that much money!'"

Family members recalled that he enjoyed giving money away as much as he enjoyed making it.  He believed God "took care of widows, orphans and Martins." 

Known for his blunt, no-nonsense style of communication, his sayings or "isms", his love for the helpless and hurting and his ability to spin a yarn, Arnold was, in the words of his grandson, Dylan Hayes, "the most interesting man in the world. You know that guy in the Dos Equis commercials, he is nothing compared to my grandpa!"

And, for those of us who knew this colorful, godly man, we'd have to agree.
--Posted by Mama O.