Donald Jackson Martin Sr., 89, of Roanoke Rapids passed away on June 22 of natural causes. Don was born on August 28, 1930 in Gilmer County, WV. He was adopted by Thomas Lorentz and Ina Furr, raised as a farm boy and attended high school in Normantown, WV. He entered the Army in 1948 and spent the next 7 years in various places including Germany, Okinawa and Englewood, NJ. It was while in New Jersey that he met his wife of 65 years, Irene Martin in early November, getting married 4 weeks later. They raised their 3 sons, Donald Jr. (Sylvia), Patrick (Jo), and Thomas (Elaine) in Little Falls, NJ. Don drove a tractor trailer for Mayflower and spent many years driving the streets of New York City, eventually moving to extra-large construction dump trucks and finally school buses. After retiring from driving, he worked at Our Lady of the Holy Angels, where his family had been members for many years. Thinking that he was retiring for good, he and Irene moved to a house on Lake Gaston in 1999, but fishing all day was too slow for him, so he found another driving job. He continued his devoted volunteer service to the churches he attended at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Roanoke Rapids. When he wasn't driving, he found time to be a Boy Scout leader, 4th degree in the Knights of Columbus, play guitar, woodwork, and enjoy his dogs, especially Gabby. He is also survived by his wife, children, their spouses and grandchildren, Kelly, Patrick, Valerie, Meghan, Julie, and Brianne. Memorial services will be held at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Roanoke Rapids, NC on Sunday, June 28, 2020 at 10 am with Father Pius Wekesa officiating. Inurnment will follow in the Church Columbarium immediately following the memorial service.