Obituary for Stewart William Martin
MARTIN, Stewart William
July 13, 1927 - November 21, 2022
Stewart was born at home in Ladner, BC. He and his older sister, Betty, were the children of William and Nellie Martin from Newtownards, Northern Ireland.
Stewart attended Ladner schools, and in high school was Major of the Cadet Corps. He worked during high school weekends and summers on Ladner farms, and spent subsequent summers in the Ladner cannery and the peat factory, on construction jobs, and as a Fisheries Inspector.
In 1949 he applied to UBC, where Dean Walter Gage decided to admit Stewart despite his less-than-stellar high school transcript. At UBC Stewart received BA, BEd, and MEd degrees and taught in Trail and in West Vancouver, where he became Principal of Gleneagles and West Bay Elementary Schools.
Stewart married Elinor Miller of West Vancouver in 1958, and in 1966 they and their two young children moved to Edmonton. During the next two years, Stewart earned a PhD in Educational Administration at the University of Alberta.
He returned to West Vancouver to be Supervisor of Elementary Instruction. A year later he was hired by the Vancouver School Board where he served for the rest of his career, first as a Director of Instruction, then as an Assistant Superintendent of Schools. He appreciated working with teachers and with his VSB colleagues.
Significant in Stewart’s life were his family, their Miniature Schnauzer dogs, his garden, his Corvair car, and very importantly, St. Christopher’s Anglican Church. Stewart served in many roles at St. Christopher’s, among them Rector’s Warden and Trustee. He was also a member of the Diocesan Refugee Sponsorship Programme. In 2014 he was awarded the Order of the Diocese of New Westminster for his work in his parish and the Diocese.
Stewart was pre-deceased by his sister, Betty Brunton, in 2020. He is survived by Elinor, his wife of 64 years; his son, David Martin, daughter-in-law, Tanya, and his beloved granddaughter, Sonya; his daughter, Elizabeth Plenty, and son-in-law, Terry; his nephew, Jim Brunton, niece-in-law, Brenda, grandnephews, James and Matt, and second cousins in Canada and Northern Ireland.
The family would like to thank the Director of Care, Dr. Betty Wills, and the nursing staff of Manor 3 at Lynn Valley Care Centre, for their compassion and concern for Stewart in his final years.
Stewart’s Memorial Service will be held on Friday, December 9th, 2022, at 2:00 pm in St. Christopher’s Anglican Church, 1068 Inglewood Avenue, West Vancouver V7T 1Y3
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the charity of your choice, or to St. Christopher’s Church in memory of Stewart.
July 13, 1927 - November 21, 2022
Stewart was born at home in Ladner, BC. He and his older sister, Betty, were the children of William and Nellie Martin from Newtownards, Northern Ireland.
Stewart attended Ladner schools, and in high school was Major of the Cadet Corps. He worked during high school weekends and summers on Ladner farms, and spent subsequent summers in the Ladner cannery and the peat factory, on construction jobs, and as a Fisheries Inspector.
In 1949 he applied to UBC, where Dean Walter Gage decided to admit Stewart despite his less-than-stellar high school transcript. At UBC Stewart received BA, BEd, and MEd degrees and taught in Trail and in West Vancouver, where he became Principal of Gleneagles and West Bay Elementary Schools.
Stewart married Elinor Miller of West Vancouver in 1958, and in 1966 they and their two young children moved to Edmonton. During the next two years, Stewart earned a PhD in Educational Administration at the University of Alberta.
He returned to West Vancouver to be Supervisor of Elementary Instruction. A year later he was hired by the Vancouver School Board where he served for the rest of his career, first as a Director of Instruction, then as an Assistant Superintendent of Schools. He appreciated working with teachers and with his VSB colleagues.
Significant in Stewart’s life were his family, their Miniature Schnauzer dogs, his garden, his Corvair car, and very importantly, St. Christopher’s Anglican Church. Stewart served in many roles at St. Christopher’s, among them Rector’s Warden and Trustee. He was also a member of the Diocesan Refugee Sponsorship Programme. In 2014 he was awarded the Order of the Diocese of New Westminster for his work in his parish and the Diocese.
Stewart was pre-deceased by his sister, Betty Brunton, in 2020. He is survived by Elinor, his wife of 64 years; his son, David Martin, daughter-in-law, Tanya, and his beloved granddaughter, Sonya; his daughter, Elizabeth Plenty, and son-in-law, Terry; his nephew, Jim Brunton, niece-in-law, Brenda, grandnephews, James and Matt, and second cousins in Canada and Northern Ireland.
The family would like to thank the Director of Care, Dr. Betty Wills, and the nursing staff of Manor 3 at Lynn Valley Care Centre, for their compassion and concern for Stewart in his final years.
Stewart’s Memorial Service will be held on Friday, December 9th, 2022, at 2:00 pm in St. Christopher’s Anglican Church, 1068 Inglewood Avenue, West Vancouver V7T 1Y3
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the charity of your choice, or to St. Christopher’s Church in memory of Stewart.