Bruce A. Martin, age 89, died peacefully on January 8, 2025, after a brief illness. He was a loving father, deeply adored grandfather and great-grandfather and a faithful husband for 67 years.

Born in Littleton, New Hampshire, in 1935, Bruce spent most of his early life in Walpole, New Hampshire. He graduated from Walpole High School in 1953. He attended Princeton University, working his way through college and graduating as a member of the Class of 1957. He subsequently obtained a master’s degree in American History from the University of Missouri – Kansas City while attending night school.

He had a long and distinguished career in the military. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army Field Artillery upon graduation from college. He was stationed across the United States and the world, including Butzbach, Germany with the 3rd Armored Division and the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) at Mons, Belgium. He served two deployments to Vietnam in 1965 and 1969. He commanded the 1 st Battalion, 5th Artillery, the most senior artillery battalion in the US Army. After completing the Army Command and General Staff College and the US Army War College, he taught at both.

Bruce retired from the Army in 1985 as a full Colonel. During his military career, he received the Defense Superior Service Medal/Legion of Merit, two Bronze Star Medals for different campaigns, the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, the Viet Nam Service Medal, Republic of Viet Nam Campaign Medal, and Viet Nam Cross of Gallantry Unit Citation.

After retirement, he joined Cambridge International, a consulting firm in Arlington, Virginia. His job was to help the United States and foreign firms secure contracts with the U.S. military services. He moved back to Walpole, New Hampshire in 1993.

Bruce was a very active participant in his church and the Walpole community. He served in many leadership positions and governing committees with the First Congregational Church, where he was married and regularly worshipped upon his retirement. In 1999, he successfully led the fundraising campaign for major church improvements. He organized and participated in the church’s Hearts Club which raises funds for charitable purposes in and out of the church and he spearheaded an effort to deliver frozen food items from Shaw’s Market to the Fall Mountain Food Shelf.

He was also active in his community outside of his church. Between 2004 and 2007, under the auspices of the American Legion, he led the group that designed and created the Memorial to Walpole Veterans on the Common, including raising over $170,000 in funding. In 2011, the Walpole Grange named Bruce the Community Citizen of the Year for his lifetime of contributions to the community.

Throughout his life, Bruce enjoyed his time at his family’s cottage on Lake Warren in Alstead, collecting US coins, cheering on New England sports teams, and playing his favorite card games including Hearts, Bridge, and 31. In his later years, Bruce spent his time doting on his ​grandchildren, tending to his gardens, and picking blueberries at Elsesser’s in Acworth. He was a man of few words, but had an incredible smile and will be remembered for his love of country, community, and family.

His loving wife of 67 years, Janet (Prentiss) Martin, who he consistently and frequently credited for the unwavering backup support to his many accomplishments in his life, survives him. Both are a product of Walpole. The two first met in middle school and courted through high school and college, marrying in 1957 after both graduated from college.

He is also survived by his proud children, Gregory Martin Rochette (husband, Steven) of Litchfield, New Hampshire, Steven Martin (wife, Donna) of Morganton, North Carolina, and Tracey Martin (significant other, Mike Snide) of Walpole, New Hampshire. He has five adoring grandchildren, Danielle Hutchison, Wesley Martin, Laura Girard, Nicole Wood, and Nat Wood, and seven adorable great-grandchildren, Coen, Maxwell, Delilah, Dominic, Josephine, Juliet, and Nathan. His surviving brothers are David Martin (wife, Barbara) of Westford, Massachusetts, and Alan Martin (wife, Donna) of Fredericksburg, Virginia. His surviving sister-in-law is Elizabeth Prentiss of Walpole, New Hampshire. He has many surviving nieces and nephews for whom he fondly cared.

A Memorial Service celebrating Bruce’s life and accomplishments will be held at the First Congregational Church, 15 Washington Street, Walpole, New Hampshire on Saturday, January 18, 2025, at 11:00 AM with a reception to follow downstairs in Fellowship Hall. Graveside services will occur at a later date. The family encourages donations honoring the memory of Bruce to be made to the First Congregational Church, PO Box 393, Walpole, New Hampshire 03608.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Fenton and Hennessey Funeral Home, 55 Westminster Street, Bellows Falls, VT.