Garth Martin was born January 11, 1930, in Beebe, Arkansas. He was the son of two educators, Howard and Edith Martin. He was a graduate of Beebe High School (valedictorian), Beebe Junior College, and Hendrix College. It was at Hendrix that he met the love of his life, Joann Berry. They were together for 70 years, and would become well-known and beloved figures in the business, public school, Methodist, cultural, and political worlds of Little Rock. Garth often said marrying Joann was the best decision he ever made.
Garth spent 50 years in the commercial insurance industry in both company and agency ranks, becoming a well-known and respected professional in the Central Arkansas insurance community, and served on national committees for the CPCU and CIC organizations.
After his retirement from the insurance industry, Garth served for many years as an active volunteer for various organizations, including St. Vincent Infirmary, Meals on Wheels, Heifer International, and the Clinton Presidential Library.
Garth was extremely active during his entire life in church, civic, and political activities. He was one of the longest term members of Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, where he served on multiple governing committees including the Board of Trustees and the Board of Stewards. He served as a representative of the church in multiple overseas mission trips. Garth and Joann were also involved in the church’s youth programs, and their legacy is memorialized by the PHUMC Martin Youth Endowment.
Highly active in the community, Garth served on a number of boards and committees for organizations as varied as CARTI Foundation, Wildwood Park for the Arts, YMCA, Family Service Agency, St. Vincent Auxiliary Board, and Pulaski County Democratic Party. He was a founding board member of the Little Rock Racquet Club. In education, he served on the Hendrix College Alumni Board and the ASU-Beebe Development Council. He was named a Distinguished Alumnus of ASU-Beebe.
Garth was an accomplished and multi-talented athlete. He competed in football, basketball, and track in high school, junior college, and at Hendrix. After his own playing days, he encouraged, taught and supported his three sons, who all went on to play sports in high school and college, and then did the same for his grandchildren. He continued to stay active physically throughout his life, mostly recently as a regular member of the Hays Center in North Little Rock.
Garth was also a proud member of the National Guard, serving his country as a young man and later in life as a member of the Air National Guard. Garth was predeceased by his wife Joann Berry Martin, with whom he shared 70 years of a wonderful life filled with family, culture, politics, and travel throughout the United States, Europe, and the Far East. One of the more memorable trips they took was a two week journey around China. They were quite active in the Arkansas Democratic Party and attended both inaugurations of President Bill Clinton.
He is survived by his three sons, Doug (and wife Melanie), Greg, and Rick, and their eight children, Cory Grummer (Jacob), Brett Martin, James Martin, Haven Hamilton (Michael), Kye Masino, Jeremiah Martin, Jonathan Martin, and Walker Martin. He is also survived by three great-grandchildren, Rhett, Lane, and Martin Grummer. For all of these descendants, as well as his many cousins, Garth was the bulwark of the family, the man they could always rely upon. He was quite proud to be the patriarch of the ever-growing clan.
Throughout his long life, Garth’s deep faith, devotion to service and community, and love for family never wavered, it only grew, and his memory will continue to influence many lives now that he is gone. He will be greatly missed by family and a multitude of friends.
Memorial donations can be made to the Martin Family Youth Endowment at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, 4823 Woodlawn, Little Rock AR 72205, (www.phumc.com/giveonline/), to Hendrix College, or to a charity of your choice. Arrangements are under the direction of RuebelFuneralHome.com
