Albert Kenton Martin

Albert Kenton Martin, age 87, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 17, 2018 after a long illness in Newark, Delaware, surrounded by his family.

Albert (Kent) was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on May 13, 1930 to the late Peter and Pearl (Pittman) Martin.  He lived for nine years until his family moved to a farming community (Smith Farm) in Indiana.  After graduating from Center Grove High School in 1948, he joined the Marine Corps Reserve and moved to Stones Crossing, in Indiana.

He attended Ball State University from 1948-1950 then suspended his education in order to serve in the US Navy Air Wing Division for four years.  He did his tour of duty in Chincoteague, VA where he met his wife Mary Ellen Peyton.  They were married on August 13, 1954 then moved to Indiana where he attended and graduated from Franklin University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Accounting.  He was a star basketball player for both Franklin University and Center Grove High School.

After he graduated college, Al moved to Newark, Delaware with his wife, two sisters-in-law, and two dogs in a farm truck.  When they arrived on Main Street, a two-way road at the time, they pulled into Jimmy’s Diner where they had dinner.  The couple lived in an apartment at George Reed Village for four months before buying a house in Brookside.

Al (AK as his wife called him) worked at Continental Diamond Fiber (a division of the Bud Company) for a short time before starting a job with the City of Newark in 1960 as Finance Director.  After 33 years with the City of Newark, Al retired.  Shortly after retiring, Al and his wife, along with his brother Frank and his wife, made their way to Alaska for two and a half months.

In 1965, the family bought a small cottage in South Bethany beach which they still own and enjoy today.  In 1971, the family took up camping and bought their first pop-up camper.  The following year Al packed up his family and his mother-in-law in the Country Squire station wagon and headed west for a cross country camping trip to California.  They spent five weeks travelling and living in the pop-up; it was the adventure of a lifetime and many other camping trips followed.

Albert enjoyed the outdoors and spent many nights camping with the Boy Scouts in every weather condition imaginable. He went on two high adventure trips in Matagamon High Adventure Base in Maine where he spent two weeks each time living out of a canoe.  He enjoyed backpacking trips as well.  He enjoyed time at the beach and in his boat on the water.

Albert was a firm but caring man who would do anything for anyone, at any time.  He was a role model and mentor to his family.  He will be greatly missed.

In addition to his parents, Albert was preceded in death by his brother, Gerald Martin; sister, Kay Lyman; and daughter, Lori Copson.  Al is survived by his wife of 63 years, Mary Ellen; two of his children, Sandra Lantz (Brian) and David Martin (Kelli); four grandchildren, Jennifer Copson Heckert (George), Jessica Martin Berkeridge (Steve), Jeffrey Copson, and Scott Martin; and four great grandchildren, Rhiley Copson, Jackson Heckert, Ian Heckert, and Evan Berkeridge.

A visitation for family and friends will be held from 6 pm until 8 pm on Friday, March 23, 2018 at Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 121 West Park Place, Newark, DE.  A second visitation will be held the following day, Saturday, March 24, 2018 from 10:30 am until 11 am, with a funeral service at 11 am.  Interment will follow in Head of Christiana Cemetery, 1100 Church Road, Newark, New Castle County, Delaware, 19711.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Al’s name to Boy Scouts of America, PO Box 152079, Irving, TX 75015-2079 or Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Delaware Chapter, 100 W. 10th Street, Ste 209, Wilmington, DE 19801.