Obituaries

Robert “Grumpy” Blanton Martin, age 66, of Lincolnton, died on Wednesday, December 19, 2012.

A service of celebration will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, December 22, 2012 in the Warlick Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. William Faulkner and Rev. Bill Stanley officiating.   The family will receive friends from 12:30 until 1:30 pm on Saturday prior to the service at the funeral home.

Mr. Martin was born August 20, 1946 in Columbus, Kentucky to the late Robert Alvin and Ruth Webb Martin.  In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by a daughter, Shannon Marie Martin, and a brother, Edward Ray Hopper.  He was retired from McWhirter Grading Company in Charlotte.  Mr. Martin served in the United States Navy as a radarman during the Vietnam War.   In 2012, he was elected the VFW Veteran of the year in Lincoln County. 

He is survived by his wife, Jeanelle F. Martin of the home; a daughter, Nancy Faulkner Beatenhead and husband David of Lincolnton; one brother, Billy Russell Hopper of Vale; one sister, Brenda Langley of Lincolnton; two grandsons, Devin Beatenhead and Daniel Beatenhead; a great-granddaughter, Peighton Beatenhead; two nephews, Nathan Haynes and Billy Hopper and wife Kim of Lincolnton. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Gaston County, P.O. Box 3984, Gastonia, NC  28054.