Carl E. Martin, 94, of Rantoul, formerly of Ludlow passed away at 6:27 a.m. Monday, May 16, 2022 at his home.

Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m. Sunday, May 22, 2022 at Baier Family Funeral Services, 406 E Pells, Paxton with Rev. Brett Smith officiating. Burial will follow in Ludlow Township Cemetery, Ludlow with military honors by Rantoul VFW Gung Ho Post 6750.

Visitation will be 5:00-7:00 p.m. Saturday, May 21, 2022 at the funeral home.

Carl was born in Clarence on January 16, 1928 to Claude and Bertha Whippo Martin. He married Mary Rea Smith August 13, 1949 in Louisville, Kentucky. She preceded him in death April 10, 2016.

He is survived by two daughters, Patrice (Alfred) Klassen of Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada, Maurita Nichols of Goshen, Indiana; son, Brad Martin of Rantoul; 13 grandchildren, Brent (Elisa) Klassen, Andrea (Brad) Buechler, Bryan (Vanessa) Klassen, Alyssa (Adán) Zavala, Olivia Klassen, Janelle (Adam) Privett, Mindy (Joel) Comino, Troy Nichols, Josh (Lydia) Nichols, Amy Nichols, BJ (Grace) Nichols, Travis (Janelle) Nichols, Trent Nichols; 13 great grandchildren, Maja, Lena, Caleb, Graham, Blake, Genevieve, Henrik, Heidi, D'Angelo, Julian, Alexa, Kylie and Jesse.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; grandson, Ryan Martin Nichols; great grandson, Isaac Ryan Privett; son-in-law, Stan H. Nichols and nine brothers and sisters.

Carl graduated from Paxton High School in 1946 and was proud that he had been homecoming king. He joined the United States Navy January 23, 1946, and spent 22 years serving his country. His last deployment was served in Vietnam with the Marines as a medical corpsman. After retirement from the Navy, he settled in the Ludlow area while working in Urbana as a lab technologist for Dr. J. M. Christie and Dr. C. R. Shepardson. Upon retirement from the medical field at 72 years of age, he and Mary continued to live on the farm until 2015 when they moved to Rantoul.

Carl and Mary attended the Rantoul Church of Christ. His church family was very special to him.

He remained connected to his childhood friends throughout his entire life. Over the years, Carl combined his enjoyment of being with friends and sports by going to football and basketball games in Paxton. He enjoyed gardening, nature, bird watching, woodworking in his younger years, reading and playing cards. Carl was very fond of chili and root beer floats.

Memorials may be made to the Rantoul Church of Christ. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.baierfuneralservices.com.