Richard "Rick" Martin

Mr. Richard “Rick” Martin, age 82, of Dalton, Georgia, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 03, 2026, surrounded by his loving family, at Regency Park Health and Rehabilitation Center.

Rick was born on Tuesday, May 23, 1944, in Lafayette, Indiana, to the late Mr. Roland Paul Martin and Mrs. Catherine May Martin.

Rick was the youngest of four children and had a very happy childhood in Lafayette. He attended Purdue University where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Design. That is also where he met his wife, Sandy. They were married in 1965 and moved to North Vernon, Indiana where he started his career in the carpet industry.

In 1971, Rick and Sandy moved to Dalton and immediately immersed themselves in the community, quickly making this their hometown for themselves and their two daughters. Besides his long career in the flooring industry, he was a member of the Exchange Club, a volunteer with Junior Achievement and a member of the Rotary Club. Rick was very involved in the Creative Arts Guild, serving as its President on two different occasions. He was also one of the founders of the Artistic Civic Theatre, serving as a president, board member and Board of Trustees member. Rick was a dedicated member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church where he served as a Vestry member and faithful tenor in the choir.

Rick was preceded in death by his loving wife of 59 years, Sandra “Sandy” Carlson Martin.

He is survived by his two daughters, Jennifer (Wes) Phinney and Heather (Billy) Burton, as well as his four grandchildren, Emeline Phinney (Erich Watson), Margaret Phinney (Sabino Herrera), Katherine (Bryce) Southerland, Sydney Holloway (Hunter Ford) and his great-granddaughter, Harper Jane Southerland. He is also survived by his brother, Jerry Martin, sister, Diane Frey and brother-in-law, William (Pamela) Carlson.

A Memorial Service to honor and celebrate the life of Mr. Rick Martin will be held on Wednesday, July 8 at 2:00 at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Dalton, Georgia, with Fr. Rick Tiff celebrating the service, and with eulogies being delivered by his son-in-law, Wes Phinney and his loving granddaughters. Rick’s family will receive friends for visitation in the St. Mark’s Parish Hall beginning at 12:00 until the service hour.

In lieu of flowers, Rick’s family humbly asks that donations be made in his memory to either St. Mark’s Episcopal Church (901 W Emery St, Dalton GA 30720) or to the Artistic Civic Theatre (907 Gaston St, Dalton GA 30720).