Richard W. Martin, 93
October 6, 1919 – October 2, 2013
On October 2, 2013, we said good-bye to Richard Martin. The longtime resident of Post Falls was born in Deer Lodge as Montana celebrated its 30th birthday. Woodrow Wilson was President, and 50 percent of all cars in the world were Ford Model T's. After building Glacier Park's “Going to the Sun” Road as part of the Civilian Conservation Corps, he joined the Army and fought in the Pacific during World War II. He met his future wife, Maxine, in Los Angeles while on leave. Richard was so taken, he risked being AWOL to spend a little more time with her, a choice that resulted in his being busted from sergeant to private. He never said if it was worth it, but since it lasted 55 years and resulted in six children, eight grandchildren, and numerous great grandchildren, we can infer that it was.?The Martins settled in Idaho in 1946 after Richard got a job at Kaiser Aluminum's Trentwood Mill, a job he proudly retired from in 1980. A man who witnessed this county move from the horse and carriage to the space age, he and his wife had to build the road to their home in Post Falls because there was no city to do it for them; the same home he was able to pass in, surrounded by family.?Richard is survived by daughters and sons-in-law Lugene and Dale Broadsword (Rathdrum), Cheri and Todd Stovall (Arizona City), Sue Amaral and Tim Bretthauer (Post Falls), Jennie Martin and Robert Gonzalez (El Paso), grandchildren Richard Broadsword, Shaun and Angi Moeller, John and Meredith Martin, Robert Martin, Bullet and Shane Amaral, Jason and Korrei Kruger, Ryan Martin, and numerous great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Maxine, daughter Nancy, son Marty, and granddaughters Dawn Foster and Amber Amaral.?On Oct. 6, 2013, Richard’s 39th birthday (according to him), his family had a private celebration of his life, but at his request no services will be held. English Funeral Chapel of Post Falls is in charge of the arrangements. Memorials may be sent to the American Cancer Society.