Frederick Martin ~ Class of 2005
From a young child all the way until he went into the service, Frederick Martin worked on the family farm. His family would help others who were less fortunate by helping with meals in the neighborhood. As a young man in school, he helped by getting a job as a mechanic along with farming to take care of family elders. He was then called to service for his country, fighting in the Korean war. He would send his military pay back home to help provide for his family. When he was finished with his service, he and his father made the decision to go into business together full time. In 1956, they opened Martin and Son Service on Sumpter Road in Belleville. They enjoyed providing service to the community from December 3, 1956, until he retired and closed the business at the age of 89 in 2021.
Frederick Martin worked his way up to become a master mechanic, which was helpful from time to time to the mechanic shop teachers at Belleville High School. Many times, he was across the street at the vocational education center answering many questions for the students and teachers alike. When the state of Michigan required teachers to be certified mechanics, he spent many nights at the vocational education center working to help each teacher get certified. He also hired students from BHS, helping them get their mechanic’s license. After years of helping the vocational education center, Frederick Martin decided he might not be educated enough and wanted to lead by example. He graduated from Belleville High School with his oldest grandson in 2005.
Mr. Martin married the love of his life, Juanita, a year after the business opened. They were married until her passing in 2020. He and his father built the family home in 1963 and the residence is still occupied by the family to this day.
From a young child all the way until he went into the service, Frederick Martin worked on the family farm. His family would help others who were less fortunate by helping with meals in the neighborhood. As a young man in school, he helped by getting a job as a mechanic along with farming to take care of family elders. He was then called to service for his country, fighting in the Korean war. He would send his military pay back home to help provide for his family. When he was finished with his service, he and his father made the decision to go into business together full time. In 1956, they opened Martin and Son Service on Sumpter Road in Belleville. They enjoyed providing service to the community from December 3, 1956, until he retired and closed the business at the age of 89 in 2021.
Frederick Martin worked his way up to become a master mechanic, which was helpful from time to time to the mechanic shop teachers at Belleville High School. Many times, he was across the street at the vocational education center answering many questions for the students and teachers alike. When the state of Michigan required teachers to be certified mechanics, he spent many nights at the vocational education center working to help each teacher get certified. He also hired students from BHS, helping them get their mechanic’s license. After years of helping the vocational education center, Frederick Martin decided he might not be educated enough and wanted to lead by example. He graduated from Belleville High School with his oldest grandson in 2005.
Mr. Martin married the love of his life, Juanita, a year after the business opened. They were married until her passing in 2020. He and his father built the family home in 1963 and the residence is still occupied by the family to this day.