Gilbert Martin

Martin, Gilbert Creff of Colonial Heights, died Sunday, July 31, 2011. He was born in Chesterfield County, VA (now Colonial Heights) on October 23, 1922 to the late George Creff and Marinda Aldridge Martin. He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Geraldine â??Gerryâ? Sowder Martin. He was also predeceased by his siblings, Catherine Martin Marks, Barbara Martin Steve, and George Franklin Martin. He is survived by his daughter, Pamela Martin Comstock and her husband, John M. Comstock; a grandson, Andrew Martin Comstock; brother-in-law, John H. Steve; sister-in-law, Robbie S. Martin, and several nieces and nephews. Prior to his return to Colonial Heights, he lived for over 50 years in Dinwiddie County where he served on the Dinwiddie County School Board for 14 years, serving as Chairman for seven of those years. Mr. Martin attended Petersburg High School and was a graduate of Chester High School. He served his country in the U. S. Army during World War II as a Captain in the Transportation Corps overseeing conversion of cruise liners and merchant ships into troop transport ships in San Francisco, CA. Shortly after returning home, he opened his own building company. Gilbert C. Martin Company, Inc. developed many subdivisions in the Colonial Heights area including Bennington, Edinborough, Lexington, Burlington and Concord. He also developed subdivisions in Dinwiddie County. While building homes throughout the Tri-Cities area, he was a Charter member and two-time President of the Home Builders Association of Southside Virginia. He was also a Charter member of the Home Builders Association of Virginia, and until his death, served as a Life Director and Build-PAC Trustee. He was named to the Home Builders Association of Southside Virginiaâ??s Hall of Fame in 2002 and to the Home Builders Association of Virginiaâ??s Hall of Fame in 2004. Mr. Martin and his brother were in the automobile business together for 40 years as co-owners of Martin Oldsmobile-Toyota in Colonial Heights. He served as president of the Southside Virginia Fair for several years. He was a past president of the Petersburg Lions Club and a member for more than 60 years. He was a member of Dinwiddie Masonic Lodge No. 136 A.F. & A.M., the Petersburg Shrine Club, the ACCA Temple, the Scottish Rite and the Royal Order of Jesters. He was a past president of the Country Club of Petersburg, a member of the Thursday golf group, and a loyal member of POGO. He served on the Board of Directors of Virginia Commonwealth Bank and before that on the Advisory Board of First and Merchants Bank (Bank of America). He was a Board member of the Colonial Heights Development Corporation. Gilbert was an avid fisherman who loved to fish the Rappahannock and York Rivers, and was a member of the Virginia Yacht Club. He was a longtime fan and supporter of the University of Virginia football and basketball programs. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 3rd at the Petersburg Chapel of J. T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home & Cremation Service. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 501 Compton Road, Colonial Heights, VA 23834. Interment with Masonic Rites will follow at Blandford Cemetery, Petersburg. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, c/o ACCA Temple, 1712 Bellevue Avenue, Richmond, VA 23277-3920. Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com .