Albert Peter Martinez

Albert Pedro Martinez was born August 7, 1925. He was the oldest of eight children born to Pedro and Eva Martinez in San Antonio, Texas. Al served in the Army at the end of WWII and married Agnes Barbara Peacock on June 3, 1945. He went on to work at the Agriculture Experiment Station in Bradenton, FL and then the State of Florida Plant Industries Laboratory in Gainesville, FL. He graduated from the University of Florida in 1952 with a BS in plant pathology. Al worked at the University of Hawaii from 1967-1987 teaching plant pathology and continuing his work with the US Dept. of Agriculture. Al retired to Dunnellon, FL in 1987 where he and Barbara spent their time involved with their family, their church, community volunteer opportunities, gardening and square dancing. Always an avid and skilled athlete, Al played sports throughout his life, continuing to pitch for Slo-pitch softball into his 60s and still playing tennis into his 80s. He also delighted in winning at ping-pong with a evil spin on every ball. Al is survived by his two youngest brothers, David of Reston, VA and John (Lupe) of Houston, TX, four children, Dolores (Thomas) Gaitanis of Dunnellon, Michael (Laura) of Savannah, GA, Zenita (Scott) Bockstruck of Cheney, WA and Lisa (James) Moretz of McDavid, FL, nine grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, and two great, great grandsons, born in March, 2022. His wife of 66 years passed in 2011 and granddaughter Lydia passed in 2018. His second wife of 10 years, Esther News passed in October, 2021. He loved his family and the Lord and said he was ready to enter his rest after 96 years of living. A celebration of life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on June 28 at the United Methodist Church in Dunnellon and he will be interred at the Florida National Cemetery.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Albert Peter Martinez, please visit our floral store.