Clyde Martin
Published March 19, 2008
Clyde “Whitey” Martin passed away peacefully on March 19, 2008. He was 87 years young.
He was born in Glendale, Ariz. on May 19, 1920 and lived most of his life in Southern California.
As a young man, he worked with the Civilian Conservation Corps to build trails and bridges in Yosemite and other national parks. Clyde joined the Army just three days before Pearl Harbor was bombed. He was a decorated soldier serving in the invasions of North Africa, Sicily and Italy with the 814th Army Combat Engineers.
He married Trudy Beagle in 1947. Trudy and Clyde raised their three children (Steve, Randy and Robyn) in Brea, Calif. Clyde worked with his brothers in the plumbing industry for four decades. He retired from the North Orange County School District.
In 1988 Clyde and Trudy moved to Whidbey Island where they owned and operated the Country Cottage Bed & Breakfast in Langley until 1991. After their inn-keeping career, they moved to the Useless Bay Golf & Country Club community. He was passionate about sports, travel, family, politics and watching “Jeopardy.”
Clyde is survived by his wife Trudy, son Steve Martin and wife Shelley, daughter Robyn Pruett and husband David; four grandchildren (Carrie Altman, Corey Martin, Nicole and Taylor Pruett) and great-grandson (Kylen Altman). He is preceded in death by his son Randy Martin.
Friends are invited to a Celebration of Life at 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 1 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Freeland. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association or Trinity Lutheran Church.