Roland Martin, on 100th birthday, credits family, healthy living and staying busy for longevity

Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Roland Martin, seated, sits with his daughter Margaret and son Bill during a recent reception at the First Presbyterian Church of Medina in honor of his 100th birthday Aug. 9. (Right) Roland Martin will celebrate his 100th birthday on Sunday with family, including granddaughter Sarah Hanssen and great-granddaughter Lainey, pictured here.

MEDINA – Roland Martin never thought much about getting old. He just took one day at a time he said at a reception last Sunday at the First Presbyterian Church to celebrate his 100th birthday.  Looking much younger than his years, he greeted well-wishers at the church, where he is a lifetime member.

A son of the late Charles and Ethel Martin, Roland was born in the family home on Martin Road, along with three brothers and a sister.

“In winter, we were born downstairs where it was warmer, but in summer births took place upstairs,” Roland said.

Roland married the former Alice Knights and together they raised two children, son Bill and daughter Margaret. Roland is the fourth generation of Martin family farmers, and today son Bill is the fifth generation, grandson Ben is the sixth generation and Ben’s son will be the seventh.

Roland attended Medina High School, but got permission to quit during the last semester of his senior year to join the Army.

“We were on our way from the Philippines to Japan, and if that bomb hadn’t been dropped, I would probably not be here today,” Roland said.

He remembers driving their Model T down the country roads before they were paved and working the fields behind a team of horses.

He never got tangled up with computers, he said.

He contributes his longevity to good healthy living, keeping busy and having family.

Roland lives alone and does his own cooking, which he learned by cooking for 30 in his platoon in the Army.

Until recently, he kept busy in his woodworking shop.

“He still mows his lawn and has a garden,” daughter Margaret Martin said.

Roland has three grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He will celebrate his birthday at a gathering with family on Sunday.

(Left) Trudi Schwert of Medina, a member of the First Presbyterian Church, gets a hug from Roland Martin, during a reception at church in honor of his 100th birthday. 9right) Longtime member of the First Presbyterian Church of Medina, John Williams, greets Roland Martin of Medina.