BGen (Ret) Charles Edward Martin

Brigadier General (Ret.) Charles E. Martin (PA) 

BG Chuck Martin passed away peacefully on June 24, 2020 at his home in Palmyra, PA. 

Chuck served with distinction for over thirty-two years in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard as a helicopter pilot, rising in rank from private to his retired rank of Brigadier General. Over his career, he was awarded the Master Army Aviation badge, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, The Pennsylvania Outstanding Aeronautical Achievement Award presented by former Governor Thomas Ridge and was twice awarded flight instructor of the year by the Federal Aviation Administration. Chuck was a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and of the U.S. Army War College.  Among his proudest accomplishments were teaching his son, Ryan, and daughter, Amber, to fly. 

Upon retiring from the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, Chuck served with the Federal Aviation Administration as the Principal Operations Inspector for Allegheny Airlines for eleven years, and finally four years with Haverfield Aviation of Gettysburg, PA. 

Concurrently with his military career, and retirement from the FAA, Chuck was appointed by the Federal Aviation Administration as a Designated Pilot Examiner and administered over fifteen hundred pilot certifications in airplanes, helicopters and seaplanes. 

In addition to Chuck’s love of airplanes, helicopters and seaplanes, he was also an avid vintage car enthusiast, enjoying driving his antique Porsche’s, modern Jaguars and other sports cars with his wife, Maggie, friends and fellow enthusiasts. 

Chuck also enjoyed spending time with his network of friends, children, his daughter-in-law and son-in-law as well as his three young grandchildren. 

Chuck is preceded in death by his father, Norman and mother Katherine of Bethel Park. He is survived by his wife of forty-eight years, Maggie, his daughter Amber and her husband Damon Sherrick, their children Grayson and Sydney of Linglestown, PA and his son, Ryan Martin and wife Rachel and their daughter, Valentina of Annville, PA. He is also survived by his sister, Linda (Martin) McCoskey and her husband James of Venice, Florida; brother James Martin and his wife Lynn of Mobile, Alabama,  brother-in-law Geoff and sister-in-law Joy (Hodgson) Barefoot of Naples, Florida, and eight nieces and nephews. 

Chuck will be remembered in a private, family ceremony on Tuesday, June 30, 2020.

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