David M. Martin III

SFC David M. Martin III, US Army (Retired) passed away on Tuesday April 23, 2024 after a courageous battle with esophageal cancer. David was known as “Pop” to all that loved him. He and his family were blessed to have him spend his final days at the Francis House in Syracuse.

Pop was born on September 24, 1942 in Syracuse to the late David M. Jr. and Katherine (Michalski) Martin, and married Ursula Seidler on January 08, 1965 in Rodalben, Germany. He proudly enlisted in the United States Army in 1961, did 2 tours in Vietnam, served as a heavy equipment operator as part of the combat engineers, and was a decorated recruiter for the Army during his almost 21 years of military service. He retired from the Army in 1981.

Pop then retired from the US Postal Service in 2007. He was a 4th Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus, a lifetime member of the VFW Post #723 in Constantia, and a regular parishioner of both St. Mary’s Church in Cleveland and The Mission of St. Bernadette in Constantia. He was also an avid racecar fan, model train enthusiast, and SU basketball fan.

Pop is survived by his children; David M. (Laurie) Martin IV, Kathleen (John) Beese, Edmund S. (Pamela) Martin and Andrew M. (Jennifer) Martin II, his siblings; Linda “Lillian” (Thomas) Wood and William (Angie) Martin, his grandchildren; David M. (Sarah) Martin V, Matthew (Katrina) Martin, Ursula (John) Maxon, John (Beka) Beese, William (Hailey) Beese, Seamus Beese, Edmund Beese, Timothy Beese, Jonah (Hadley) Martin, Ben Martin, Andrew M. (Michaela) Martin III, Jack Martin and Katherine Martin; his “adopted” family of Matthew, Roberta, Daniel and Megan Sendker; and 14 great grandchildren. David is predeceased by his loving wife; Ursula “Oma”, and 2 infant grandchildren.

Calling Hours will be held from 5-7 PM on Monday, May 6th at Watson Funeral Home in Central Square. Pop will be laid to rest with his wife at the Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery in Syracuse on Tuesday May 7th where he will receive full military honors at 11am.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in David’s honor to the Francis House in Syracuse or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

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