Charles Martin

October 10, 2024

Charles Robert Martin - Obituary

Date of Birth:  September 23, 1926

Date of Death:  October 10, 2024

The Martin Family are saddened to announce the death of their larger-than-life patriarch, Charles Robert Martin, at age 98, peacefully and at home, surrounded by his loving family. Dad always said he’d outlive us all and he almost succeeded! Dad is survived by his sons, Michael and Kerry, and his daughter, Michele, as well as four grandchildren, Keri, Rebecca (Trevor), Morgan, and Cassandra, and two great grandchildren, Amira and Alexander, his sister-in-law, Margy Koehler, numerous nieces and nephews (especially Martha, Patty, Colleen, and Sarah), and his cousins, Maxine and Donald. Dad was predeceased by his beloved wife of 66 years, Arabella (2021), his infant daughter Lisa (1956), and his three sisters, Joan, Marcelle, and Jean, and his niece Cherie (1987).

Dad was born in 1926 in Buffalo, New York, to Charles Martin and Angeline Guenette. As the first born and only son, Dad was a natural protector of his three younger sisters and spent a lot of his time making sure his mother and sisters were taken care of during the Great Depression. Dad proudly served with the US Merchant Marines as an acting Able-Bodied Seamen starting in 1944 (honourably discharged in 1951), which afforded him the opportunity to both help support his family and travel all over the world. Dad met the love of his life, Arabella, when she attended nursing school in Buffalo. They married in 1954 and were living in Richmond, Virginia, where Michael was born. Dad was selling encyclopaedias for Colliers, and they asked him if he wanted to open the new Vancouver office. Dad and Mom saw this as a great opportunity and packed up Michael and their 1953 Chevy and headed off to the West Coast, arriving in May of 1956 to a beautiful Vancouver summer, thinking that they had arrived in paradise as they lived in Kitsilano and spent their days on the beach. Lisa, Kerry, and Michele soon followed. Sadly, Lisa was a “blue baby” with many medical issues and passed away shortly after Dad delivered her.

In the 1960’s, Dad opened his insurance business, Charles Martin Agencies, and ran it successfully for several years. Dad was a natural born storyteller, and many of those amazing stories arose from his real-life experiences with insuring a lot of the “happening” night clubs and lounges of the day. Even then, Dad was a confirmed night owl who could party all night with the best of them, and still conduct business the next day. In 1965, one of Dad’s clients asked him to look into some mining interests which was Dad’s introduction to the mining industry. Dad aced the Canadian Securities course and actively managed and consulted for various mining companies over the next several decades well into his 90’s.

In addition to his keen interest in mining, Dad was also a patron of the Blues and music scene in Vancouver, attending the weekly jam sessions at the Princeton almost without fail right up to COVID. Dad loved all music and was a talented singer in his own right. He was also a supporter of the musicians who played the music he loved, and he was well known as someone you could talk to if you needed an ear or a shoulder, or just someone to listen or give advice. One of Dad’s biggest regrets was that he had major problems with his balance as he got older, and this meant he could no longer dance. Dad and Mom were so much fun to watch on the dance floor—we hope that they are now tripping the light fantastic as they whirl off together across the heavens. Dad loved nothing better than a good party and that often involved getting a bunch of musicians together to play and sing till the wee hours and, sadly, his life was diminished by the fact that his deteriorating health and COVID prevented him from doing this. Dad would like all those musicians whose playing brought him such joy and pleasure over the years to know how much he appreciated their talents and willingness to share their gifts.

Dad was an avid fly fisherman who taught many how to fly cast and he loved spending time up at the family cabin at Walloper Lake and being out on the water, and while Mike worked hard to ensure Dad was able to do this for as long as possible, Dad missed being able to get out and fish these last few years.  When we were growing up, Dad always had a boat of some kind, sometimes inflatable, sometimes wooden, and we kids were the envy of the neighbourhood because we got to go out fishing on the ocean or camping at Cultus Lake every summer, all of which instilled in us so many fond childhood memories.

Dad was adamant that he wanted to stay at home right up until the end. In order to honour Dad’s wishes, Mike and Kerry both took on the role of primary caregivers and provided such diligent and loving care to Dad over the last few years. They were able to achieve this with the consistent help of Dad’s two other caregivers, Michael and Irvin, who became like family. Dad was also supported by his two dear friends, Ziggy and Bill, who never failed to check up on him and be there for him as his health failed. As well, Dad received truly amazing care from the entire Palliative Care Team at Vancouver Home Health, with the assistance of Dr. Slater, and the caring and compassionate Community Health and overnight nurses and clinicians, including Scott, Tracey, Winnie, Louie, Sean, Thuy, Jenny, and so many others—we could not have done it without you.  We are eternally grateful to all of you for your unceasing kindness, competence, compassion, and wisdom in guiding us and Dad along in his final journey and ensuring Dad’s wishes and needs were always paramount and helping us to find the best balance between the two. Because of your caring, concern, and quick responses to everything that we asked of you, Dad was able to die the way he lived—in control as much as possible, and on his own terms. Thank you.

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