Allan Gerald Martin, 80, of Union, passed away peacefully on Jan. 19 at the Riverside Home in Thomaston with his loving family by his side.
He was born in Appleton on Nov. 27, 1932, the son of the late William Martin and Juanita Johnson Hawes. He grew up on his family’s dairy farm in Union and attended Appleton and Union schools. He received an award in the fifth grade for his recital of the Gettysburg address; something his mother was quite proud of, as the two of them had worked very hard on this project together. He was a graduate of Union High School, class of 1951, where he also played four years of basketball. After finishing high school he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he served for four years.
His time in the service was for him more educational than if he would have gone to college. He was able to travel to many foreign countries as a flight steward and had the opportunity to meet and work with a variety of interesting people. He was discharged from the service in July of 1955. After he was discharged he found himself in New Hampshire and had been bitten by the travel bug pretty badly and he wanted to take off and see the country. He got as far as Boston and was living at the YMCA while he was looking for a summer job. He found that summer job with Financial Publishing Co. After the summer he found that he really enjoyed his job with FPC so he decided to stay on a little longer. A little longer indeed, as he would continue on with FPC until retiring after a 33-year career in March of 1989.
After retiring he moved back to Union where he would work at the Union Agway for a time and then he found himself moving to Camden where he would help out a local coffee shop. He would winter in Sanford, Fla. and while there he would work for ACE Hardware.
He was a very competitive person and he enjoyed a variety of different activities. He loved to play cards; bridge and poker were his two games of choice and he proved to be very good at both. While working in Boston he would often find himself at high stake tables and faring quite well. He also loved to play softball and was one of the top candlepin bowlers in Massachusetts. He was a member of the Wilburn Sportsmen Club where he was a member of the archery team. He enjoyed going on hunting trips; even though he was a hunter who didn’t like to kill a deer, he would still go for the comradery and the time in the woods. He was a frequent visitor of Mic Mac Market and had his own seat. He was known as Uncle Al the Children’s Pal, there was nothing more that he loved than piling as many kids as would fit into his red 1969 Ford Mustang convertible and taking them for rides. He was a generous and kind man, and probably didn’t even know how to tell a lie.
He was predeceased by his stepfather, Schuyler Hawes.
Survivors include his siblings, Jacqueline Hawes of Union, Lincoln Hawes and wife Peggy of Union, Mary Mulhern of Warren, Shirley Call and husband Malcolm of Jefferson, N.H., and Zoa Guptill and husband Stephen of Berwick; and special friend, Jim Justice of Union.
A private family service will be held at a later date.
Should you desire, memorial contributions in Allan’s honor may be made to the Union Masonic Lodge.
You are invited to share your condolences, memories and photos with the family by visiting their Book of Memories page at www.hallfuneralhomes.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 949 Main St., Waldoboro.
