Theodore A. Martin

STERLING – Rev. Theodore A. Martin, 103, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 27, 2018 under the loving care of his family and the compassionate staff at UMass Memorial Medical Center. Born in Manchester, New Hampshire, Rev. Martin was the son of Rev. Louis H. and Emma (Arzt) Martin and lived the last 33 years in Sterling.

Rev. Martin graduated from Concordia Preparatory School and Concordia College in Bronxville, New York and received his master’s degree in 1939 from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. After graduating seminary, Rev. Martin served as the Dean of Students at Concordia College in Austin, Texas. While serving his vicarage in Holyoke, Rev. Martin met the love of his life, Rita R. Partridge who was living there at the time. After a one year courtship, they married and shortly thereafter moved to Clinton where they resided for 37 years. In 1985 at the time of his retirement, they moved to Sterling.

Rev. Martin served as Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Clinton from 1948 to 1985, retiring at the age of 70. He held the title of Pastor Emeritus until his passing. He also taught German for several years at Clinton High School.

He was a model railroad enthusiast and was a founding member of the Nashua Valley Railroad Association. He enjoyed photography and loved writing which included amusing poetry in his youth. He looked forward to spending time with his family especially his grand and great grandchildren. He will be remembered as a caring Pastor and a loving husband, father and grandfather.

His beloved wife of 62 years, Rita R. (Partridge) Martin, died 2009. He will be lovingly remembered and missed by his two sons, Theodore A. Martin and his wife, Cindy of Westminster and Paul L. Martin and his wife, Kathleen of Fitchburg; five grandchildren, Jennifer Meagher and her husband, Dan of Sterling, Kimberly Smith and her husband, Gregory of Leominster, Rebecca Martin of Cutler, Ohio, Jonathan Martin and Allison Martin both of Wolcott, Connecticut; three great-grandchildren, Natalie and Lana Smith, and Grayson Meagher.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Rev. Martin’s family from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, January 2, at Miles-Sterling Funeral and Tribute Center, 100 Worcester Road (Rte. 12), Sterling. A funeral service honoring and celebrating his life will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, January 3, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 117 Chase St., Clinton. Rev. Martin will be laid to rest next to his wife at Woodlawn Cemetery in Clinton. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, 117 Chase St., Clinton, MA 01510; or to Lutheran Hour Ministries, 660 Mason Ridge Center Dr., St. Louis, MO 63141, www.lhm.org .