Colonel David Martin

Colonel David Warren Martin escaped the surly bonds of earth on August 13th, 2020 to join his Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus.  He was a member of Chadds Ford Baptist Church, Chatham Methodist Church, and West Grove Presbyterian Church, the latter built by his grandfather Harry McLimans. Born in West Grove, Pennsylvania, April 21, 1941, he was the son of Raymond Conard Martin and Katharine Lydia McLimans Martin of West Grove.  He married his beloved wife of fifty-two years Hope Wingate Martin on August 17, 1963.

David graduated from Valley Forge Military Academy in 1959, The Lincoln University of Pennsylvania in 1964, and George Washington University in 1974. He also attended the University of Delaware from 1959 to 1962 and did graduate work toward his Master of Arts in neoclassical literature at Temple University from 1963 to 1965.

David taught English at Mount Pleasant Senior High School in Wilmington, Delaware, from 1963 to 1966 before entering the United States Air Force. After completing Officer Training School as a Distinguished Graduate, he served ten years on active duty as a Regular officer in Ocean City, New Jersey; Naha Air Base, Japan; and Fort Meade, Maryland, the latter as Chief of Air Force Personnel for the National Security Agency. Colonel Martin served as a Reserve Officer from 1976 to 1993 at Fort Meade, Andrews Air Force Base, and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, retiring as Mobilization Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff, Manpower and Personnel, Air Force Material Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. He was also a graduate of the Air War College, Air Command and Staff School, Squadron Officer School, and the Senior Military Officer Cryptologic School, as well as the University of Virginia Colgate Darden Executive Development Program.

After leaving active duty, David was employed with Southeast National Bank of Pennsylvania as Director of Human Resources; Northeastern Regional Personnel Officer for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in King of Prussia; and Senior Director of Human Resources for Amtrak, Washington, DC.  He joined HRA Services, Inc., a  regional human resource management consulting firm in West Chester and Chadds Ford, PA, in 1985, serving as chief operating and later as president and CEO.  David devoted much of his work life to studying, writing about, and working with people-centered organization, large and small, in the areas of leadership and organizational development.  He also served on the Board of Upland Country Day School, the Southern Chester County YMCA, and the Board of Directors, Valley Forge Military Academy and College Alumni Association, where he was honored as 2012 Outstanding Alumnus.

David is survived by his daughter Jennifer Singer and her husband Rand, his son Jonathan Martin and his wife Rachael, and grandchildren Lain and Teryn Singer and Jonathan, Alyssa, and Reagan Martin.  David leaves the earth and you with these words: “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.”

You are invited to visit with David’s family and friends (COVID rules will apply) from 11AM to 1PM Friday August 21, 2020 at Chadds Ford Baptist Church 415 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, PA 19317.  You are also invited to his graveside ceremony immediately following the visitation at 1:30PM at London Grove Friends Cemetery 500 W Street Rd. Kennett Square, PA, 19348. In honor of his service to our country he will receive full military honors. Contributions in his memory may be made to New Garden Flying Field (Memo: David Martin Future Aviators Scholarship) 1235 Newark Rd, Toughkenamon, PA 19374 .  Arrangements are by Grieco Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc. (484-734-8100) www.griecofunerals.com