Earl A. Martin

Born on February 3, 1946 in Bixby, OK, Earl met Pam Worley at York College (York, NE) and they were married on September 1 (That was chosen so Earl could remember the date), 1967, when they were both still in college. Harding College (Searcy, AR) was very strict and frowned on PDA on campus – so they got married Earl’s Senior year so they could “PDA all they wanted,” Earl said. Earl said he married his best friend. Married for 58 years, Earl always said, “they were the best ‘40 years’ of his life.” (Pam didn’t like this joke as much as he did).

After college they joined Shiloh, a mission-based program for disadvantaged children in NY/NJ in 1968-1971. While in NJ, Earl got his Master’s Degree in special education at Rutgers University. When their first child, Joel, was born, they moved to Olathe KS in 1975 to be closer to families in Oklahoma and Nebraska.

Earl felt blessed to have had a good career in education. He taught special education in New Jersey before moving to Olathe, KS as a special education teacher at Ridgeview School. In 1988, he became a principal, to open a brand-new Countryside Elementary. While there, the school staff developed a strong bond that Earl valued so highly throughout life. In the 4th year, Countryside was awarded the National Blue Ribbon Award for excellence – an honor that Earl was very proud of. In 2000, he moved into district leadership as the Director of Elementary Education, where he had the opportunity to mentor new principals – something he really enjoyed. Earl retired in 2009, worked in the DeSoto School District for a couple of years before joining the adjunct faculty with Emporia State University’s teacher training program in conjunction with Johnson County Community College. While at ESU, He received his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Baker University.

Singing was always something Earl enjoyed -- singing in college, leading church worship for many years, singing in the College Church of the Nazarene choir and singing with the Trails West Barbershop Chorus for many years.

Pam and Earl enjoyed traveling as much as possible – and they traveled all over the world. Earl loved taking photos of their travels.

Family was very important to Earl. Time with family was his “love language.” He was proud of the principled and gifted adults his “kids” had become, and grandkids Peter and Lucy are a special joy.

Faith in God was central to Earl’s life. When he retired, Earl quoted Philippians 3:12 as his retirement Bible verse: “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God called me.” In retirement, Earl continued to be involved in things that mattered to him: the Ambassador Class of College Church of the Nazarene, where he and Pam made many new friends; staying connected with LifeMission Church and leading a home group; the Olathe Retired Educators Association; the Olathe Youth Symphony Board; Jo.Co. Kansans for Life; Olathe Santa Fe Trails Rotary Club; and Trails West Barbershop Chorus.

As a legacy to his life-time work in education, Earl took special joy in establishing family education scholarships with the Olathe School District, Mid-America Nazarene University, York University (Nebraska), and with the Olathe Youth Symphony. Designated memorials are: (1) Olathe Public Schools Foundation – Martin Family Education Scholarship (300 E Loula St., Olathe KS 66061); (2) Two Lines Pregnancy Center (10901 Grenada Lane, OP, Ks 66211); or (3) the KU Cancer Foundation. Donations are appreciated in lieu of flowers.

Born in Bixby OK on February 3, 1946, and died December 31, 2025. (He did like easy to remember dates as noted).

Earl is survived by his wife, Pamela Martin; children, Joel Martin (wife Traci Martin), Sarah Martin, and Jeremy Martin (wife Calista Martin), and grandchildren Peter and Lucy as well as brother Wayne Martin and sister-in-law Karen Penington and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by parents Dorothy and Claud Martin, and siblings LaVonne Martin, Marva Wood, Patricia Woods, Nadean Davis, ClaudreanMartin, and Donald Martin.

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