March 5, 1929 — Dec. 26, 2017

Dr. Edward H. Martin, a retired Niles dentist, passed away the morning of Dec. 26, 2017, at the Center for Hospice Care in South Bend, Indiana.

Edward was born March 5, 1929, in Niles, Michigan to Dr. Warren Franz Martin and Margaret Genevieve (Hamilton) Martin. He grew up in Niles to a loving family with an older sister, Catherine Alice (Mack) who preceded him in death on Dec 20, 2000. His father passed on April 30, 1959, his mother passed on Feb 20, 1971.

As Edward grew up, he enjoyed a wonderful father who was a prankster, bird and rabbit hunting, his mother’s wonderful baking and many trips to Indian Lake and eventually Smith Lake, where the family purchased a cottage. He also enjoyed pinball and told stories of how he and his lifelong friend Bob Adler, would play pinball for hours at the local gas station on only two nickels, ultimately revealing how he was cheating the machine.

Edward was a big sports enthusiast, playing on the Niles High School basketball team. Later in life he continued to play volleyball at the YMCA and then coached all of his kids in one sport or another. He continued to watch Niles High School sporting events throughout his life and often went to playoff games of both boys and girls sports. He also enjoyed and attended Notre Dame ladies sports on occasion. Edward also volunteered for a time at the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend which he enjoyed and talked about a great deal.

Edward was a dog lover. He learned this from his father who had raised many English setters. He continued this tradition of bird hunting and enjoyed many great hunting trips with his dog Marty and another lifelong friend Dr. Laverne Blank.

After graduating high school, Edward went on to attend Michigan State College being an ROTC member. After a year he transferred to his grandfather’s alma mater, Michigan. He then went on to graduate from U of M’s dental school in 1953. Upon graduation, he fulfilled his ROTC requirements at Sturgate Air Force Base in Lincolnshire, England, where he met the love of his life, Mary Ellen Ogle.

They were married Feb. 25, 1956 in her hometown of Charleston, West Virginia. They then returned to Niles where Dr. Martin practiced dentistry with his father and Mary Ellen became a mother to four children, John (Cheri) Grand Blanc, Michigan, Laura (Scott) Miller of Niles, Catherine (Charles) Ross of Novi, Michigan and Leslie (Neale) Behm of Lancaster, Kentucky.

Ed and Mary had many close friends in Niles. Their social life included camping with the kids in Decatur, Michigan to hosting 4th of July pool parties at their home north of Niles. They also got together with friends for cards, dancing, and always for a New Year’s Eve Party somewhere. Later on, during retirement they travelled in their motorhome with the Hobo Camping Group all over the country, including Alaska.

Dr. Martin continued to give back to Niles. Not only supportive of Niles sports he also had many Niles High School co-op students work for him in his practice. He was also a member of the Niles School Board and volunteered with Mary for Meals on Wheels in Niles. Chicago professional sports were important to him and he was lucky enough to see the major sports each win a championship in his lifetime!

Along with his four children, Dr. Martin is also survived by seven grandchildren (Joseph, Laura and Elizabeth Sheeran; Colin and Anna Smith; Andrea and Michelle Behm) and one great-grandchild Landon Ransbottom.

A time of visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Dec 28, 2017. Funeral Service will be held on at 11 a.m. Friday at Brown Funeral Home in Niles. Interment will take place at a later date.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Center for Hospice Care in South Bend, 111 Sunnybrook Ct South Bend, Indiana 46637.

Memories of Dr. Martin may be shared with his family at BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral home & Cremation Service, Niles.