Martin, Kenneth Ray

Kenneth Ray Martin

January 31, 1948 – May 26, 2015

Kenneth Ray Martin was born on January 31, 1948, to Tanner and Evelyn Martin in Cottage Grove, Oregon. Ken was the first of three sons. On Tuesday, May 26, 2015, Ken lost his brief battle with lung cancer, a strand caused by exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. Ken was 67 years of age. Ken attended Days Creek High School for his freshman and sophomore years and was sophomore Class President, Myrtle Creek High School as a junior and South Umpqua High School for his senior year. Ken was in the first graduating class from SUHS in 1966. Voted “best all around” by his classmates, Ken surely was. He was a man you knew you could count on. An avid athlete, Ken participated in football, basketball, wrestling and track throughout high school. After graduation, Ken enlisted with the United States Marine Corps. He received his Basic Training in San Diego, additional training at Camp Pendleton, and was soon among the many young men sent to Vietnam. Ken served with Bravo Company, 3rd Recon. Ken would come home from Vietnam bearing three Purple Heart Medals; the National Defense Service Medal; the Vietnamese Service Medal; the Vietnamese Campaign Medal; the Presidential Unit Citation; the Combat Action Ribbon and Rifle Sharpshooters Badge. Ken saved countless lives while fighting during the siege at Khe Sanh. Ken met his wife Linda in Roseburg and they would have two daughters. Linda was one of the best things to happen to Ken. The family enjoyed many camping trips over the years with friends and family. Ken never made a secret of how much he loved his family. Ken was employed with James A Graf Trucking for 36 years as a log truck driver. After retiring from trucking, Ken was a volunteer at Roseburg VA as a patient escort. To date, Ken had volunteered over 2,500 hours. He was well loved by his co-workers and fellow veterans. Ken was a member of the Khe Sanh Veteran Association and enjoyed attending annual reunions. The bond between his Khe Sanh brothers is eternal. Ken is survived by his wife of 33 years, Linda Martin; their daughters Melissa (Andrew) Georgesen and Kendra (Jason) Schroeder; his granddaughter Ella Rose Georgesen; and brothers Gary (Carole) Martin and Mike (Juanita) Martin. Ken was blessed to be an uncle to special niece Nancy Martin. Ken is survived by many family members, including nieces and nephews Kristy, Michael, and Brian Martin. Ken will be missed by numerous close friends who were like family to him.