Martin Melville “Marty” Purtiman went to be one with God on December 11, 2025, one day after
celebrating his 89 th birthday. Martin was born December 10, 1936, in Martin’s Ferry, Ohio, the oldest
child of Martin Sr. and Dorothy (Jackson) Purtiman. Martin grew up in and around the Flushing area,
graduating from Flushing High School in 1956. Martin exceled in both football and basketball and was a
proud member of Flushing’s 1954 undefeated Belmont County championship basketball team. During
his senior year, a pretty new student named Billie Jo Gunn joined his class. He was smitten, they
became inseparable, and the summer after their high school graduation, Jo and Martin married on July
27, 1956, spending over 67 years in wedded bliss. Together Jo and Martin had two children. Their
daughter, Mitzi, was sadly lost at birth. Their son, Franklin, joined Martin in many adventures and they
shared a love of motor sports, including trying their hands at competitive go-kart racing, although Frank
could never convince Martin to follow Indycar instead of NASCAR.
Martin studied to be a machinist, where he found his true calling in life. His skill as a machinist was
legendary, matched only by his love of his chosen profession. He was proud of his many professional
accomplishments, including designing several patented items and creating intricate large-scale precision
parts for a nuclear power facility. For a time, he owned his own machine shop, but most of his career
was spent at Consolidated Coal Company and Joy Global, Inc. He was part owner of the “Laundromat”
in Flushing with his close friend Leland Love, although his son and daughter in law loved to tease him
about not naming it the “Duds in Suds.” As an adult, Martin lived briefly in Chicago, Texas, and
Mansfield, Ohio, but most of his life was spent in Flushing, Ohio and Parma, Ohio.
Martin was very proud of his service in the United States Army’s “Hell on Wheels” division, from 1958 to
1960. His favorite Army stories centered around his service with Elvis Presley while they were both
stationed in Germany.
Martin was handsome, mischievous, talented, charming, a jokester, and could own any room he walked
into. He loved animals, particularly all of the dogs he owned over the years, especially Wilbur and
Gessee. He was also kind and soft-hearted, and his family has many stories of his offer of funds or gifts
to help right the wrongs of others. He loved traveling, especially in the RV in which he and Jo saw the
U.S., and he had great love for his family, friends, and fur children.
Martin was a member of the Flushing American Legion Post #366, an over fifty-year member of the
Flushing Masonic Lodge 298, a member of Shriners International, and a member of the Flushing Senior
Center.
Left to cherish his memory are his son and daughter-in-law Franklin and Teresa (Strausbaugh) Purtiman
of Lexington, Ohio, sister and brother-in-law Becki (Purtiman) and Terry Gibson of Uniontown, Ohio,
niece Heidi Garbesi and her husband Rob Bittinger of Jacobsburg, Ohio, nephew Doug Gibson of
Uniontown, Ohio, and many extended family and friends. Preceding him in death were his parents, wife
Jo, daughter Mitzi, parents-in-law William Gunn and Lorene (White) Gunn, brother Timothy Purtiman,
and beloved dogs Wilbur and Gessee. A special thanks to all of Martin’s wonderful caregivers at both
Wedgewood Assisted Living in Mansfield, Ohio and Harrison County Home in Cadiz, Ohio for their loving
care of Martin these many years.
Visitation for friends and family will be from 10am to noon on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at the Beck
Chapel of CARE Funeral & Cremation Specialists, 204 W. Main St., St. Clairsville, Ohio, with military
honors at noon and a brief service immediately following conducted by Senior Evangelist Don Schuler of
the Belmont Church of Christ. Burial will be private. Memorial contributions in Martin’s memory may
be made to your local Humane Society or the Flushing Volunteer Fire Department. To leave
condolences or special memories of Martin, please visit www.carechapel.com.
