Pastor W. Ralph Martin

Pastor William Ralph Martin, 88, passed away June 11, 2021.  He was born November 26, 1932 on his Grandfather Lee Jones’ Farm on Hopper Hill, Missouri.  He moved to Minneapolis in 1937 and graduated from Robinsdale High School in 1950.  He married Eunice Elaine Berglund on June 27, 1953.  He graduated from Northwestern Bible School in 1956 with a Major in Music & Proficiency in Choir.  He served in the Navy Reserve for 2 years.  From 1956-1961, Youth Pastor at Robinsdale Baptist Church; 1961-1963, Music Director at Fourth Baptist church in Minneapolis; 1963, graduated from Central Baptist Theological Seminary; 1963-1968, Pastor of First Baptist Church in Wheatland Wyoming; 1969-2002, Pastor of Memorial Baptist, Rockford, IL.

In 1971 he started Rockford Baptist Schools and in 1978 Awarded Honorary Doctorate Degree, Central Baptist Theological Seminary.  Served on several boards—Illinois Association of Christian Schools, Director of Baptist World Missions Board, BIEM with Peter and Sam Slobodian, Central Baptist Theological Seminary, NTA New Testament Association of local Churches; Intermountain Baptist Fellowship.

Preceded in death by his wife, Eunice Elaine Martin (Berglund); father, Clarence Kenneth Martin; mother, Lula Katherine (Jones) Martin; brothers, Jim Martin and Jerry Martin; and grandsons, Jesse Martin and David Sperling.

Survived by his sisters, Shirley Drury and Carol Carls; his youngest brother, David Martin, his son, Paul (Kristi Kirby) Martin and six children, nineteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild; his daughter, Ruth (Steve) Sperling and four children and five grandchildren; his son, John (Robin Keiser) Martin and five children and three grandchildren; his son, Tim (Julie Lawson) Martin and three children and four grandchildren; Jennie (Bob) Bixby and their two children. 

We are looking forward to celebrating W. Ralph Martin’s life this Friday, June 18, 2021.  The visitation will be at Memorial Baptist Church, 7007 Flora Road, Rockford, IL 61101 from 9:30AM to 11:00AM followed by the Funeral Service at 11:00AM.  Graveside Service will be at 1:30PM in Scottish Argyle Cemetery, 8901 Picken Road, Caledonia, IL 61011.  Fellowship will be at 2:30PM in Redeemer Church, 5501 Windsor Road, Loves Park, IL 61111.

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