THE VILLAGES, Fla. — George G. Martin Jr., 85, passed away on Friday, March 14.

George was born in Auburn, attended Auburn schools and graduated from Maine Maritime Academy in 1950, at which time he was called into the U.S. Navy as an ensign, then lieutenant junior grade, during the Korean War, during which he served on several minesweepers.

In 1952, George and Shirley Van Ham were married; they have a son, John Whitman Martin, of St. Louis, Mo., and a daughter, Melissa Mae Gurganus, of Norfolk, Va.

After leaving the Navy, George took a job in Atlanta, Ga., where he was a mortgage banker and real estate broker, and started his company, Guardian Mortgage Corp. In 1985, he retired and moved to Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., where he was able to enjoy his love of sailing.

He and Shirley moved to The Villages, Fla., in 2001. George had many interests, including Kiwanis International, in which he was the Georgia governor from 1980-1981; the Masons, in which he served as Massachusetts district deputy to the grand master from 1990-1991; the Boys and Girls Club, both in Atlanta and Martha’s Vineyard; and was a member of the board of directors of the Edgartown National Bank in Martha’s Vineyard and was elected selectman in Oak Bluffs, Mass.

George was a member of New Covenant United Methodist Church in which he served in many capacities. George was deeply loved by his family, and was admired and loved by everyone who knew him.

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