Martin Joseph Paliokas
September 4, 1923 ~ April 15, 2021
Martin Joseph Paliokas, age 97, died peacefully on April 15, 2021 after a long and productive life.
Martin was born on September 4, 1923, in the coal-mining town of Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania to Eva Gudelesky and Martin Paliokas, both immigrants from Lithuania. He grew up poor in a family with seven sisters – Jenn, Magdalene, Eva, Anne, Dorothy, Percy, and Julie – and a brother who died young.
Martin joined the US Navy after Pearl Harbor and actively served aboard the USS Chester (CA27) in the Pacific during World War II from 1943-45. He continued to serve in the Navy Reserves from 1947-1952. After his honorable discharge from the US Navy, Martin took advantage of the GI Bill and earned a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Indiana Technical College in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
While in Indiana, Martin met Alice Dolores Starzynski and they married in 1947. They were happily together for 40 years until Alice’s death in 1987 and raised a family of 5 children – Jan Marie, Thomas Martin, John Joseph, Kathleen Louise, and Kristine Anne – and two grandchildren, Nicholas Martin and Kara Anne.
Martin’s work career included jobs at International Harvester and Chrysler Corporation as an engineer and supervisor, and at the US Department of Transportation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) where he oversaw and enforced safety standards on school buses. Martin also founded and served as first president of the Golden Commando Race Club while working at Chrysler. He retired in 1991.
In 1998, Martin met Rosemary Ferris and they spent the last 23 years together, having fun and traveling the world, including attending annual USS Chester, Cruiser Sailor, and Iwo Jima Association reunions. They married in 2018.
A graveside burial ceremony will be held on Wednesday, April 21, 2021, at 2 pm at Fairfax Memorial Park. Family will host a larger Celebration of Life event in remembrance of Martin in September 2021 around the time of his birthday
Martin was born on September 4, 1923, in the coal-mining town of Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania to Eva Gudelesky and Martin Paliokas, both immigrants from Lithuania. He grew up poor in a family with seven sisters – Jenn, Magdalene, Eva, Anne, Dorothy, Percy, and Julie – and a brother who died young.
Martin joined the US Navy after Pearl Harbor and actively served aboard the USS Chester (CA27) in the Pacific during World War II from 1943-45. He continued to serve in the Navy Reserves from 1947-1952. After his honorable discharge from the US Navy, Martin took advantage of the GI Bill and earned a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Indiana Technical College in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
While in Indiana, Martin met Alice Dolores Starzynski and they married in 1947. They were happily together for 40 years until Alice’s death in 1987 and raised a family of 5 children – Jan Marie, Thomas Martin, John Joseph, Kathleen Louise, and Kristine Anne – and two grandchildren, Nicholas Martin and Kara Anne.
Martin’s work career included jobs at International Harvester and Chrysler Corporation as an engineer and supervisor, and at the US Department of Transportation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) where he oversaw and enforced safety standards on school buses. Martin also founded and served as first president of the Golden Commando Race Club while working at Chrysler. He retired in 1991.
In 1998, Martin met Rosemary Ferris and they spent the last 23 years together, having fun and traveling the world, including attending annual USS Chester, Cruiser Sailor, and Iwo Jima Association reunions. They married in 2018.
A graveside burial ceremony will be held on Wednesday, April 21, 2021, at 2 pm at Fairfax Memorial Park. Family will host a larger Celebration of Life event in remembrance of Martin in September 2021 around the time of his birthday
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The Owners and Staff at the Money and King Funeral Home, wish to express our sincere sympathy to you. It is our hope that we may be able to make a difficult time more bearable. Please feel free to call us anytime as we are always available to you. Bob Gallagher Funeral Director
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Kathy, Tom, Jack and Jan Marie, Nick and Kara: Well, this is one of those days I knew would come but somehow just never thought would because I just always of thought of your dad and grandpa as timeless. Since 1977 he has been a part of my life and when I used to visit during my UVa years and in the years after, he and your mom/grandmom just always made me feel a part of the family. And even after Alice’s passing, Martin was always there with that beautiful, great smile and that gentle warmth that I found to be his trademark. I was, and am, so humbly grateful for what he and your family represent in my life journey: constancy, a welcoming spirit and a sense of family. Even after all of these years when I did not see him, just knowing he was there through Kathy was a comfort to me. You say “Martin Paliokas” to me and I smile. That will always be the case. He lives on in each of you and you are his face to the world now; what a gift. He touched my life for the better and enriched my spirit and I can think of no better tribute to a person than those things. I loved your dad and I love your family. Thanks for sharing him with me so long ago. Love, Lisa McAvoy
Wow, Lisa, your message made me cry! Thanks for sharing your love for my dad. I remember my dad saying to me when he realized we were actually going to go backpacking across Europe after college “You’re really going to do this?” He was later so proud of us that he shared my letters home to all his co-workers at his office. What a great dad! Kathy Paliokas
Martin is father-in-law to my sister, Dawn, married to Martin’s son, Tom. I grew to know Martin over the years when we occasionally visited together during our family gatherings. Also, Martin welcomed me and my family to his home several times when we traveled to VA. He was always so kind and gracious. I loved seeing him interact so lovingly with his children and grandchildren. Love the photo gallery. He was so active, and handsome, too.
We came to know Martin through Rosemary, a life long friend of Rosemarie’s. A more descent, loving , kind and patriotic person, one could not find anywhere, but in this man. Martin will be sorely missed by anyone who knew him. Rosemarie and Bill Wood Hoschton, GA
Tons and tons of memories not only in Connecticut but especially here in Florida. The dinners on the water and visiting with family. How he and Rosie loved visiting with his nephew Bobby and I. We will miss him dearly and my deepest condolences to Rosie and all his children. RIP dear Uncle Martin. And now you can party hearty with all your siblings. Bless you always. Love Carolee Mazako in Florida ???