- Date Of Birth: July 7, 1925
- Date Of Death: August 5, 2010
- State: Michigan
Clifford Dale (Bud) Martin, age 85 of Rhodes, passed away at his home on Thursday, August 5, 2010. The son of the late Fern H. Martin and Ora Bigelow Hafelein was born July 7, 1925, in Jasper Township, Midland County. Clifford was educated in the Midland Public School system and lived in the Midland area while growing up and has lived in the Rhodes, MI area since 1958.
Clifford joined the U.S. Army in September 1943. He took his basic training at Camp Chaffee AK. In July 1944 he was with General Patton’s 3rd Army on their march through Southern France toward Germany. His unit was on its way to Strasbourg on the French/German border when near Alsace, Lorraine France he was severely wounded. He was taken to a hospital in Paris France and then flown to Gloucester England for surgery and more intensive care. In 1946 he was discharged from the Percy Jones Army Hospital in Battle Creek. He received the Purple Heart Medal, two Bronze Campaign Medals, and later was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. He was employed by the Department of Natural Resources for over 30 years beginning in the Lee Township Fire Tower, then to Southern Michigan Nursery, and from 1965 until his retirement in 1984 he worked in several State Parks. He was the Asst. Mgr. at the Gladwin State Park for 15 years.
Clifford enjoyed the hobby of Genealogy. He was a member of the Midland Genealogical Society. He received a “First Families of Midland County Ancestral Certificate” on the Martin family, who were early settlers in Jasper Township. He was a member of Gratiot County Historical and Genealogical Society and received Centennial Certificates on the Bigelow and Crawford families of Gratiot County. He also belonged to the Ohio Genealogical Society with family roots in that State. He was a Life member of the Beaverton VFW, Life member of DAV Gladwin County, Michigan Department of National Resources Retirees, and Michigan United Conservation Clubs.
He is survived by his children Douglas Martin, and Cindy Talbot, and special friends Jack Batcke, Michael Martin and special friends, Sandra Heilig, Paul Martin, all of Midland, and Gregory Martin of Fenton. He is survived by 15 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren; sisters, Ruth Skutt of Midland, Verna Schloneger of Breckenridge, and Margie (Richard) Benner of Midland; brothers, Donald E (Ardith) Martin and William (Eleanor) Hafelein both of Midland. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a son, Terry Lee Martin; sisters, Alice Kirby and Beatrice Martin; brother, Robert Martin and four nephews and one niece.
