Robert "Bob" Clifford Martin

The staff at the South Carolina Cremation Society offers their condolences to family and friends. We join you in remembering.

Robert Clifford “Bob” Martin, 92, of Aiken, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at his home.  SC Cremation Society is honored to care for this veteran.

Born in Rossville, Illinois, he was the son of the late Frank Martin and Amy E. Thurber Martin.

Bob enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and received his second Purple Heart for being wounded in action on 21 February 1945, two days before the iconic photo of the flag being raised was taken. He never wanted to talk about his time in the South Pacific until he was called by James Bradley, author of the book,  “Flags of our Fathers” and whose father, John Bradley was one of the flag raisers.  As was so typical of men of that era, while Bob knew that he was entitled to burial at Arlington National Cemetery, he dismissed the idea as he insisted that “Arlington is for real heroes”.

After being honorably discharged from The United States Marine Corps, Bob became an Illinois State Trooper, then a sheriff and then he retired as the Recorder of Deeds for Champaign County, Illinois. He was a 32 degree Mason at Western Star Lodge 0240 in Champaign, IL, a Life Member of the 5th Marines Division Association.

He and his wife of over sixty years, “Nita” moved to Aiken in 1997. He was a member of St. John’s United Methodist Church, Houndslake Country Club and Woodside Plantation Country Club.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a brother, Delbert Martin and two sons, Michael & Mark.

He is survived by his wife, Juanita “Nita” Martin, Aiken; a daughter, Pat (Jim) Estergard, Tavares, FL; two granddaughters, Amy (Bob) Patee, Tavares, FL and Amanda (Scott) Miller, Summerdale, AL; a great granddaughter, Emma Patee and a great grandson, John Miller.

Services will be private and interment will take place in Illinois.  Memorial donations may be directed to The Fountain Fund at St. John’s United Methodist Church, 104 Newberry St. NW, Aiken, SC 29801.