Patrick County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Biographies.....Martin, Amos September 8, 1929 - April 21, 2018
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ron Martin cindyandron@bellsouth.net August 18, 2021, 8:53 pm

Source: Personal Accounts
Author: Ron Martin

  Amos Lee Martin was born on Sunday, September, 8, 1929 near the banks of Puppy 
Creek in Dodson, Virginia, the youngest son of Charlie Bishop Martin and Lila 
Elizabeth Bryant Martin.  
  He attended school at Heidelbach School, a one room schoolhouse that was 
located several miles from his homeplace.  Most all students had to walk to 
school during this era as they were from poor families and the roads in that 
area were very poor at the time.  He dropped out of school at an early age as 
did most children from that era as they had to help on the family farm.
  In 1942, life began to change for the Martin family.  His parents proceeded to 
purchase a storehouse and the Goblintown Grist Mill from James Linville Walker 
and Minerva Annie Martin Walker on January 21, 1942.  The store became known as 
C.B. Martin’s Store and the grist mill was in full operation.  It became the hub 
of the community with the demise of nearby Fayerdale.
  Around 1949, he moved from home along with his brother Austin C. “Nick” Martin 
and they moved in with their sister Hallie Mae Martin Lawson who married Henry 
Rubin Lawson in 1948.
  In 1951, he entered the United States Army during the Korean conflict and 
remained throughout that year.  He spent time in Germany during his military 
career as well.
  During this time, he met the love of his life, Neva Eljewel Sigmon who resided 
with her parents in Bassett.  She worked at Dan River Mills in Danville, 
Virginia.  After the departure from the Army, he held at least one job including 
working as a mechanic at W & B Chevrolet in Bassett.
  On April 21, 1952, he secured a job with Army Corps of Engineers at Philpott 
Dam where he would remain for the rest of his working career retiring in 
December 1994 with forty-two years of service.
  On December 19, 1953, Amos and Neva were married in Meadows of Dan by the 
Reverend Wayne Dietz, a Baptist minister.  
  Their first home was in a little house that sat above the storehouse in 
Goblintown that was owned by his parents.   They lived in that home for close to 
a year before moving to North Bassett.  They remained there for a short period 
of time before moving to the Fairystone State Park area of Patrick County 
renting a home from J. Aubrey Shelton and his wife Susie who ran the store very 
close to their home.  
  In 1958, their first son was born and almost eight years later, they had 
another son.   After he was born, they decided they needed a larger home so they 
purchased a house on Philpott Dam Road.  However the lure of Patrick County was 
more than they could withstand and shortly after school began that year, they 
decided to move back to their former house near Fairystone.  Three years later, 
their only daughter was born.
  In 1974 with three kids, they purchased a piece of property within sight of 
their home and construction was begun on a new house.   They resided in that 
home raising up their kids, welcoming grandchildren, and then great 
grandchildren until their deaths.
  On December 31, 1994, Amos closed his 42 year career with the Corps of 
Engineers.  He set an example to his family with his tremendous work ethic as he 
seldom missed a day from work.  After his retirement, he then dedicated his life 
to his grandchildren, gardening, working in his yard, and taking his wife on 
frequent shopping trips to Martinsville as well as Danville.    On Sunday, he 
enjoyed watching Dale Jarrett drive the #88 Robert Yates UPS Ford Taurus and 
then later on Carl Edwards piloting the #99 Roush Fenway Office Depot Ford 
Fusion.
  Sadly the last few years of his life were spent battling several health issues 
which ultimately claimed his life on April 21, 2018.
  He was laid to rest at Ross Harbour United Methodist Church with full military 
honors.


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