PAGE 10 THE DALLAS POST Sunday, April 20, 2008 emembering ‘Spence for all he did By REBECCA BRIA rbria@timesleader.com A man well-known for his many accomplishments in the Back Mountain has died. Raymond Spencer Martin, 79, of Carverton Road, Trucksville, died April 1, 2008 at home after a battle with cancer. Known as Spence, Martin was the chairman and founder of the Dallas Area Municipal Authority (DAMA). Paul Rodda, of Dallas, met Martin on the professional level in the early 1950s. Rodda is an ar- chitect and Martin was a mechan- ical engineer. The two got to know each other and became friends. They were also both members of the Dallas Rotary Club, of which Martin was a past president and a member for just shy of 50 years. “We got to know each other ve- ry well over a 50-year period,” Rodda said. “He was one of the people I could trust with any- thing.” Rodda says he and his wife, Jean, were best friends with Mar- tin and his wife, Joan. The cou- ples often met up and attended functions together such as the Northeastern Pennsylvania Phil- harmonic. Though Rodda has many me- mories of his friendship with Martin, he prefers to keep them private. Arthur and Sandy Peoples, of Dallas, were first introduced to Martin eight years ago when they joined the Dallas Rotary Club. The Peoples quickly learned that if anything ever broke, Martin al- ways had what it took to fix it in his truck. “He always said, TIl be right back,” Sandy said. Arthur remembers what made Martin special to so many others. “He was a compliment gentle- man,” Arthur said. “He had un- conditional love for his family, to- ward his friends and commit- ment to the community. I have never seen him not handle him- self as a gentleman. He always treated people he met as his MEMORIAL DONATIONS Memorial contributions in R. Spencer Mar- tin's name may be made to Habitat for Humanity of Wyoming Valley or a charity of the donor's choice. friend.” Sandy nominated Martin for his second Paul Harris Fellow pin because of his devotion to the club and community. It is a “ser- vice above self” award and Mar- tin was the only member of the Dallas Rotary Club to receive it twice. Martin was presented with the award in March and, just one month later, Sandy delivered a eulogy at his funeral on behalf of the Rotary. “Rotary meets every week,” Sandy said in the eulogy. “That means that Spence attended more than 2,450 Rotary meet- ings. He worked more than 45 county fairs, which he helped to found by the way, 50 library auc- tions, five Dallas Festivals and more than 20 golf tournaments. He was tireless at helping us raise funds for our Rotary charities, most of which support programs for youth such as our children’s Christmas shopping spree, the li- brary, food pantry, Salvation Ar- my, book scholarships for deserv- ing college-bound seniors, youth exchange students, the dictio- nary project for third-graders and much more.” At the annual Dallas Rotary Club Charter Night on April 3, Martin’s life was commemorated. Over 60 people attended the meeting. “It was not a grief thing or a mourning thing,” Sandy said. “It was a celebration of all the things he had done and what he meant to everybody.” Aside from the Rotary Club, Martin was also a Habitat for Hu- manity of Wyoming Valley board member, a volunteer and a driver for Meals on Wheels of Wyoming [ELS CIN Tel) BEA" [=Te [ T=1e EVA AY o 14 AC 24-Month Maturity — due 04/23/10. Non-<callable. 12-Month Maturity — due 04/23/09. Non-callable. 6-Month Maturity — due 10/23/08. Non-<callable. T rai Ere (STO B mock, PA 18657 Located next 10 Gay's True Value D RATES 3.65" ANNUAL PERCENTAGE YIELD* Yo a7 20% 3-Month Maturity — due 07/23/08. Non-callable. WACHOVIA SECURITIES FINANCIAL NETWORK “The aves pemetage weld PY) and Jroe ae Caren 3 of 4717/08 and subiect to availablity snd change i price. B 50ld is Be secondary maar pror ts mstet the IDs may be worth mare i 0s han ie ouginel maestment. [Ts ace FDIC weoned ug to $108.000 per nstition. {0 may Be umn fy ong of state lindo. Periodic towed oie savments are of semeedied inte Be O00 Hache Denies Fenced MYMEL Ns Tomson, © Sschpet Serres Fironoe Netwod, [10 ©7008 Warsous Secudties 1D REDE pe SUBMITTED PHOTO Spencer Martin, second from right in the second row, represents the Dallas Rotary Club in 2006 at an awards ceremony. Valley and one of the founders of the Dallas Area Fall Fair, now known as the Luzerne County Fair, where he was chairman of the grounds for over 20 years. Spencer was the organist and choirmaster at St. John’s Luthe- ran Church on River Street for over 30 years. 5:00-7:30 pm ¥ i] He was also nominated in March as a candidate for The Times Leader Jefferson Award for Outstanding Community Ser- vice. “Spence is one of those guys who is going to be missed be- cause he always had that sparkle to him,” Arthur said. Mary Kintz Bevevino Library THINKING ABOUT CHANGING COLLEGES? Get your questions answered: * Do you have my major? ¢ Will my credits transfer? e When can | start? * What financial aid is available? * What type of housing is available? Visit campus and talk one-on-one with Te TEHT ERT ote BR TIS ToT ITT E11 (oT 5H HL ERTCE] BH BETTE TN ER AVELRET Te R= Yu 147 Take the next step, call Joan Foster at 570-674-6255, or e-mail jfoster@misericordia.edu. MISERICORDIA UNIVERSITY BFE ETI misericordia.edu Learn to succeed. 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