June 1, 1932 - April 27, 2023

Lawrence Martin, 90, of Roanoke County, Va. entered his eternal home on Thursday morning, April 27, 2023, through his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ while his wife of 59 years, Betty, continued to stand by his side and comfort him as he took his final breaths in the only earthly home he knew.

Lawrence lived a long and full life. He was born, the youngest of four children, to Merriman Clay Martin and Laura Mae Aliff Martin during the Great Depression and he learned the values of family, faith, and hard work that he passed down as an inheritance to all who were blessed to have known him.

In his final days spent in his earthly body, he could see the family who preceded him as he spoke the names of Momma, Poppa, brothers, Guy and Raymond, and sister, Hazel, as well as other family and friends who have preceded him into Glory.

He started working as a farmer from the time he was old enough to lend a hand in gardening, the raising, harvesting and marketing of apples, and tending to livestock. He was nineteen years old when his father passed, and he continued to farm until he took a job as a Deputy with Roanoke County Sheriff’s Department. It was through this law enforcement occupation where he was introduced to Betty Hartman of Salem who worked in the courthouse. While there are varying accounts of who introduced them, the factual history remains that they married in December of 1963 after a brief courtship, and Betty loved him and took care of him through his final breaths.

Another fact is that their children, Steve and Angie, had the finest set of parents that children could be raised by. They are part of his legacy and they joined with Betty to provide the care he needed in his final days.

Lawrence believed in the value of work, and he provided for his family through a career which saw him move from being a Sheriff’s Deputy just prior to the birth of his daughter, to work with Roanoke County Parks Department until he retired in 1989. He continued to farm until he was just beyond the point of being able to farm, and in his mind, he always believed that he would get back on his tractor if his son would just give him a boost.

He loved his grandchildren and Lawrence and Betty both light up with joy whenever they are around them. Although Lawrence was in declining health, he was able to be present when Erynn married Robbie and two years after that when Jared married Lexi. He enjoyed their presence, their help, and their prayers as he transitioned into Glory with an assurance that he was completely surrounded by people who loved him. This is evidence of a life well lived.

There are names of many more family members and friends who he loved and who showed their love to him who are not being listed here today by name because there are too many to list, and we do not wish to risk an inadvertent omission as we are learning to balance on this tightrope of faith, joy, grief, and loss.

Our family wishes to express our gratitude to Friendship Home Care’s Sarah, Jamaica, Tara, and Darlene for their help in preserving our family’s endurance until he crossed over so that we had the strength to be with him and provide as much care as we could. Lastly, Good Samaritan Hospice, you are accurately named. Your compassion, responsiveness, and expertise surpassed every expectation we had, and as the family of Lawrence Martin, let us assure you that those expectations are a high bar to clear. Thank you and may God bless you as richly as he blessed our family in bringing you to us in Lawrence’s final days.

A Graveside Service will be conducted at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 1, 2023, at the Treavy Family Cemetery in Salem, Va.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to Good Samaritan Hospice, 2408 Electric Road, Roanoke, VA 24018. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.Oakeys.com.