Ralph Gene Martin

Ralph Gene Martin (1944-2024)

Ralph Martin was born in a cabin in the mountains of Swandale, West Virginia, to Bertha L. Paxton and Ralph J. Martin. He and his family moved to Delaware when he was a young boy.

Ralph succumbed to COPD on April 3, 2024, in Dover. 

From 1965 through 1971, Ralph was a medical corpsman, transporting injured soldiers and performing other tasks as a member of the U.S. Army Forces in Europe. Ralph was a Qualified Marksman and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal. 

Ralph then spent many years working for General Motors in Wilmington before retiring and moving to his pond-side cottage in Seaford. In his retirement, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, bowling, and selling goods at his flea market stall.

For the last two years, Ralph resided at a Dover assisted living facility where the staff provided good care and his neighbors always enjoyed his company. Despite the COPD that burdened his last years, he was able to enjoy regular visits with his daughter, Missy, and his nephew, Robbie. Missy and Robbie would take Ralph for pleasure drives through Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge and Silver Lake Park, often after lunching at his favorite place, the Smyrna Diner.

Ralph is survived by his daughter, Melissa Denise (Martin) Hodges, and her husband, David; his granddaughters Corinne and Lily Hodges and her husband Patrick Cutter; and his sister June Leibenguth and her family, including her son Robbie Carter. 

Services will be private.

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