Robert Terry Martin

Robert Terry Martin (Terry), age 83, died on March 4, 2026, after a battle with metastatic lung cancer, at home in Meadville, PA, surrounded by his loving family.

Terry was born in Lancaster, PA on December 1, 1942, a son of Frank Melvin Martin (Jack) and Mary Irene (Fisher) Martin. He married Maryann (Hanas) Martin on September 6, 1969.

Terry and his family moved from Lancaster to the Hillcrest neighborhood of Meadville, PA in 1945. He attended Meadville Area High School.

Terry served in the United States Coast Guard from 1960-1964. He attended Boot Camp in Cape May, New Jersey. He served for one year on a buoy tender, “The Lilac,” based at Glouster, New Jersey. He attended Navy Boiler School at Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Chicago, Illinois. At graduation, the Admiral told Terry that they had to buy new textbooks because of the errors Terry found in the ones they were using. Terry graduated first in his class.

Terry served for over 2 years on the John C. Spencer, a Patrol Gun Boat known as a weather ship. During his time on the Spencer, Terry traveled to Argenua, Newfoundland, and Bermuda. He also took part in anti-submarine warfare training at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

After the Coast Guard, he worked for Erie Lackawanna Railroad in Meadville, PA as a Locomotive Fireman. He worked on freight and passenger trains traveling between Meadville and Kent, Ohio and Meadville and Marion, Ohio.

After 12 years with Erie Lackawanna, he worked 25 years for Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail). In 1970, he was promoted to Locomotive Engineer. Terry worked his final years with Norfolk Southern Railroad. He worked in Levittsburg, the Conway Rail Yard near Pittsburgh, Ashtabula, Alliance, Buffalo, and Cleveland. He retired at age 60 after 38 ½ years on the railroad.

He served on the Meadville Area Sewer Authority Board of Directors for fifteen years.

Terry collected antiques and was a master at restoration, refurbishing them with a bead blaster and sand blaster. He especially enjoyed displaying the many copper and brass items that he had collected over the years, a large collection of railroad lanterns, fire house memorabilia and many other items from bygone industries. He enjoyed blowing his 3 and 6 chime railroad steam engine whistles that could be heard from a mile away. In one of his buildings, he displayed 1930s, 40s and 50s gas station memorabilia. Terry also completed a full restoration of his 1934 Ford truck.

In addition to his wife of 56 years, Maryann, Terry is survived by three children: Paul Martin and his wife, Darla (Johnson) Martin of Meadville, PA; Amy Martin of Camano Island, Washington; and Heather Martin-Radock and her husband Nicholas Radock, Esq. of Edinboro, PA; two grand children: Margo Martin-Nelson of Camano Island, Washington and Logan Radock of Edinboro, PA; step-grandchildren: Daniel Valesky of Midway, Utah, Timothy Valesky of Meadville, PA, and Andrew Valesky of Meadville, PA.

Terry was preceded in death by his parents, and his sister, Jackie (Martin) Golnik.

The family wishes to thank the staff of the Yolanda Barco Cancer Center and Hospice of Crawford County for their compassionate care.

Terry will be laid to rest at Greendale Cemetery. Per Terry’s wishes, no services will be held.

Arrangements are under the direction of STEPHEN P. MIZNER FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, INC., 404 CHESTNUT ST., MEADVILLE.

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