Martin, Glenn Benjamin (1918-1996)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1996 Oct 10 p. 10

Birth date: 1918 Jan 4

Text of obituary:

GLENN MARTIN

Glenn Benjamin Martin was born to Ben and Ida Martin on Jan. 4, 1918, in Minot, N. D. His twin brother, Glade, died at birth. He was the youngest of six children, with a brother, Earl, and four sisters—Mary, Ruby, Bertha and Erma. While growing up on the farm in North Dakota, he felt a call to the ministry.

On Nov. 4, 1940, Glenn married his high school sweetheart, Gloria Woodiwiss, in Elkhart, Ind. He then attended Goshen College Seminary and graduated in 1946 with a degree in theology. Glenn's first pastoral assignment was in Lima, Ohio, where he was ordained in 1947. In 1952 he took chaplaincy training at Augustana Lutheran Hospital in Chicago.

Glenn's first chaplaincy assignment was in LaJunta, Colo. In 1954 he moved to Denver, where he became a chaplain at Colorado University Medical Center. He was the first accredited hospital chaplain in Colorado. Glenn helped thousands of patients and their families through crisis situations. Many became lifelong friends. He always helped anyone in need.

On weekends Glenn was interim pastor at Thurman, Colo., for five years, Pueblo for two years and Greeley for one year, and helped out at Chapel, Neb. After 29 years as chaplain at C. U. Medical Center, Glenn retired in 1982.

Glenn's other interests included serving as a trustee for the Aspen Chapel for 27 years, membership in the East Denver Optimist Club, the Green Cheese Book Club and the Chrysler Antique Car Club, and working on rental property. His last project was helping to get Peace Mennonite Community Church built. He died five days before the ground breaking.

Glenn died Sept. 3, 1996, at the age of 78. He is survived by his wife, Gloria; four children, Gordon, Gary, George and Glenna; and eight grandchildren. His ashes were scattered over the grave of his twin brother at Surrey, N. C.