Mr. Ralph Smith Martin, age 90, of Nashville, TN, transitioned home to be with his Lord and Savior on October 3, 2025, after a brief illness at Alive Hospice and prior to St Thomas Midtown Hospital in Nashville, TN. He was born on January 28, 1935, in Hickman County, TN, as the sixth and youngest child of the late Willard Armstead Martin and Sallie Brown Smith Martin.
Ralph was predeceased by his wife of 55 years, the one and only love of his life, Freeda Kathleen Martin (April 26, 2013).
He is survived by his daughters, Debbie Powell and Teresa (Darren) Green; and his grandchild, Ashley Powell, who was his ray of sunshine. Ralph was not only a wonderful and loving husband, father, and grandpa, but more importantly, a Christian and devoted man of God. He believed and therefore knew he would be reunited with his precious Kathleen one day in heaven.
Upon Ralph’s graduation from Hickman County High School in 1953, he was employed at Genesco in Centerville, TN, where he met Kathleen. After two years of dating, they married in 1957 and afterwards, in 1958, relocated to El Paso, Texas, where he was stationed in the U.S. Army. While stationed in Texas, he and Kathleen enjoyed trips to Mexico, New Orleans, and various towns in southeast Texas. After his discharge from the Army, they moved to Nashville, TN, where their first daughter, Debbie, was born in 1960, followed by their second daughter, Teresa, in 1963.
In Nashville, he was employed for twenty-five years with Ferro Corporation, and afterwards worked and retired from Whirlpool Corporation in La Vergne, TN. Beyond his employment history, he was a member of the Church of Christ, having been baptized at the age of fourteen in 1949. Ralph and his family were long-time members of Wingate Church of Christ in Nashville, and more recently, Ralph was a member of Radnor Church of Christ.
After retirement, Ralph created numerous country scenery paintings and was an active daily walker, especially loving walking outdoors. The two places he loved to visit frequently were Gatlinburg, TN, and Panama City Beach, FL, where he could witness the vast and diverse beautiful creations of God. Ralph was a huge fan of the Nashville Predators and attended several local games at Bridgestone Arena, and was also a Tennessee Titans fan.
Earlier this year, he celebrated his 90th birthday with a special surprise luncheon with family and close friends, and was so excited he reached that milestone. At 90 years of age, he maintained an independent lifestyle, resided in his own home, drove daily, walked several miles each day, and consistently followed medical advice to support his physical and mental well-being. Ralph interacted well with others, helping people feel comfortable, and often used humor in his conversations. Overall, he was a simple Christian man who loved his family.
Ralph was preceded in death by his sisters, Alice Martin, Agnes Martin Harvill, and Addie Brown Martin Totty, and his brothers, Raymond Hillard Martin and Roy Leflet Martin.
Arrangements are under the direction of Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home & Memorial Park, 660 Thompson Lane, Nashville, TN. In accordance with Ralph’s wishes, there will not be a public visitation; a private graveside service will be conducted for family members only. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/nashville-tn
For those who wish to contribute, donations may be directed to Alive Hospice, 1718 Patterson St, Nashville, TN 37203, or to a charity of your choosing.
II Corinthians 5:1 (ASV): For we know that if the earthly house of our tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens.
For more obituaries, visit https://davidsoncountysource.com/obituaries/
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