Dr. Loren Martin

Prominent Local Physician Dies, Delivered Over 5,000 Babies. Loren H. Martin, M.D. Funeral services for Loren Harold Martin, M.D., 95, will be held Tuesday, April 3rd at 11:00 a.m. in the Leppert Mortuary, Nora Chapel, 740 East 86th Street, Indianapolis. Friends are invited to gather at the mortuary to greet family members prior to the service beginning at 10:00 a.m. Dr. Martin died March 29, 2007, after a brief illness. Local family doctor who served his patients for over 50 years, Dr. Martin was most proud that he delivered over 5,000 babies during his practice. Still extremely active, even in later years, he retired at age 80 in 1992. He was on the staff of Methodist Hospital for over fifty years, and also practiced at St. Vincent Hospital and Winona Hospital. Son of Carrie Suit Martin and Oliver Marshall Martin, he was born in Drinkwater, Saskatchewan, Canada on January 29, 1912. His parents and other members of their family emigrated there in 1910 as ?homesteaders? to farm the Canadian prairie. In 1919, the family returned to Decatur County, Indiana. The first of his family to graduate from college, Dr. Martin frequently told the story of how he was offered a scholarshi...[more]

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o attend Hanover College by a gentleman who waited patiently and carried on one sentence-at-a-time/one row-at-a-time conversation while Loren plowed a Greensburg field. As Loren finished each row, the man patiently moved along the fence line to position himself where the plow would make the next turn. At Hanover College, Loren Martin was initiated into Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He earned his room and board by stoking the furnaces at night and working on the grounds during the summer months. Inspired by his family doctor in Greensburg (Dr. Tremain), Loren Martin pursued and earned a degree in medicine from Indiana University in 1939. He established a family practice on the west side of Indianapolis and was married to Gail Hendrickson until the time of her death in 1942. Their daughter, Donna Jeanne Martin, was born in March 1940 and was killed in a car accident in 1961. Dr. Martin served his country during World War II as a captain and flight surgeon in the US Air Corps. He was Captain in the 801st/492nd Bomb Group a division of the OSS, America?s precursor to the CIA. The group flew night-time sorties in the European theatre dropping spies (Joes), supplies, leaflets and food to strengthen resistance efforts against the Germans. They became known as ?The Carpetbaggers.? In 1943, before going overseas, he met Barbara Ann Cline of Columbus, Indiana, whom he married in 1945. Together, they created a family and life centered on the Indianapolis community. Dr. Martin served as the director of Resident training for Methodist Hospital and was recognized by the Methodist Hospital House Staff as a Distinguished Teacher and for his outstanding contribution in medical education. In 1972, Dr. Martin was named a Charter Fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice. During the 1960s, Dr. Martin hosted a public service television show on WISH TV entitled, ?Ask Your Doctor.? He served as a delegate to the Indiana State Medical convention for 38 years, and served on the boards of the Little Red Door, Paul Coble Post of the American Legion, the Marion County Medical Society, and the Indianapolis Medical Society. He was a life member of the Country Club of Indianapolis, and member of Meridian Hills County Club. He belonged to the Scottish Rite, Mystic Tie Lodge, Murat Temple and American Businessmen?s Club (ABC). Survivors include his daughters and their families; Suzannah R. Martin of St. Paul, Minnesota and her husband, Chuck Steffey; and Melissa C. Martin, Indianapolis. Grandchildren: Rev. Hilary Dahlberg (Steve), Megan Freund (Jeffrey); Stephen ?Reid? Goldsmith, Elizabeth Drew Goldsmith, and one great-grandchild, Benjamin Freund. He is also survived by in-laws Cynthia and Bill Roberts, Sandra and Stephen Cline, six nieces and two nephews. Dr. Martin also leaves behind many lifelong friends who enriched his life including Donna Boyer Conrad, best friend and companion for the last 10 years. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Hanover College, (Attn. Darleen Connolly, P.O. Box 108, Hanover, Indiana 47243), or Indiana University School of Medicine (Office of Gift Development, Long Hospital, Room 506, 1110 West Michigan Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202), or the charity of donors? choice.