We regret to announce the passing of Rev. Warren G. Martens, 83, of Burton, on the morning of June 14, 2012, at Monongalia General Hospital in Morgantown.

He was born Dec. 21, 1928, in College Point, N.Y., the only child of the late Gustave and Margaret Martens. After receiving degrees from Central College in Pella, Iowa, and New Brunswick Theological Seminary in New Brunswick, N.J., he was ordained by the Classis of Orange of New York in 1955. While attending seminary, he did pastoral clinical training, under the auspices of the City of New York, in Independence, Iowa, Philadelphia, Pa., and the City of New York. In 1953, he married Margaret E. Hunt, a nursing graduate from Burton.

After serving as pastor to churches in Callicoon Center, N.Y., and Youngsville, N.Y., he began a pastorate at the Levittown Community Church in Levittown, N.Y., then at the Pequannock Reformed Church in Wayne, N.J. In 1964, he began 26 years of service at the Clarkstown Reformed Church in West Nyack, N.Y. In 1996, he retired from the First Federated Church of Kerhonkson, N.Y., after six years as Pastor.

At retirement, he and Margaret happily moved to their first owned home, on their beautiful property in Burton. There they attended the Harmony Baptist Church and became involved with the community and religious activities of the Burton, Hundred and Mannington area.

For 10 years he was a lieutenant-commander of the Chaplain Corps of the U.S. Naval Reserve, during which he saw duty in West Germany and the Netherlands. He was also a part-time chaplain at both Rockland Psychiatric Center in Orangeburg, N.Y., and Pomona Health Complex in Pomona, N.Y., during his time at Clarkstown Reformed Church.

Throughout his life he supported the Boy and Cub Scouts of America, having attained the rank of Life Scout in his youth, and later serving as an assistant campmaster, provisional Scoutmaster and Cubmaster.

During his retirement, he held the title of national chaplain of the Second Marine Corps Association. He and Margaret attended many American veteran reunions and other military-related functions across the country, and he faithfully corresponded with many veterans from around the world.

He will be remembered by his friends and family for his dedication to the greater good, his sense of duty, hearty laughter, engaging humor, and his love for his wife and family. He loved to regale us with his knowledge of the military, religion, and the history of his family and America.

He is survived and missed by his wife, Margaret; their sons, Robert and his wife Marianne, Daniel and his wife Heather and their children, Emily, Samuel and Thomas, Thomas and his wife Annette and their children, Colleen, Kathleen and Victoria; his daughter, Margie and her three children, Michael, Jessica and Christopher; and two great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law, Dorothy Hunt of Burton, Agnes Cline and her husband Chester of St. Clairsville, Ohio; and first cousin, Mathew Schreiner and his wife Joyce of Long Island, N.Y.

Friends may call the Tennant Funeral Home in Hundred from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday. Funeral services will be held in the Harmony Baptist Church, Burton, at 11 a.m. Monday with the Pastor Linda Roberts officiating. Interment will follow in the Harmony Cemetery.

You may send condolences to the family at www.tennant funeralhome.com.