Thomas Ralph Martin, age 87, of Cumming, Georgia, passed away surrounded by family Tuesday, May 5, 2026.

Born May 24, 1938, in Cumming, Forsyth County, Georgia, he was the son of the late Beler Martin and Geneva Thomas Martin.

He graduated from Forsyth County High School and was a teacher of electronics and integrated technology for Forsyth Central High school. He also co-owned the local business Entertainment Mart with his wife, Mildred, since 1972. He was a Navy veteran and a member of Grace Baptist Church.

Ralph was a devoted husband, loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He most recently was excited to learn he was also soon to be a great-great-grandfather. He was a faithful friend and a steady presence who helped shape the lives of all those he taught and to all those who knew him.

Ralph was the anchor of his family and leaves behind a legacy as a lifelong teacher. His greatest joy was teaching new things to anyone wanting to learn. He gave many of his students their first job to jumpstart careers. Whether it was about the subjects he taught formally in school, how to work on engines or cars, home maintenance, or even how to build a house, he loved to teach by showing. And he knew how to do it all. Ralph was always someone you could count on to drop what he was doing to help out a friend or neighbor without hesitation. He loved to tell stories, and it seemed he knew everyone. His life centered on his family, but the heartbeat of his life was Mildred, his high school sweetheart and wife of over 70 years. He often told the story of when they married and began building their life together. Whether they traveled by van around the country, rode the Goldwing through the winding mountain roads, or ran the Sea Ray down the Chattahoochee to Apalachicola, he and Mildred lead lives filled with adventure and a love of just being together.

Ralph is preceded in death by his parents, Beler and Geneva Martin, brothers Maurice and Lyndon Martin, sister, Nancy Eason, and the love of his life, Mildred.

He is survived children Tommy Martin (Diana) and Rebecca Rusk (John-David), all of Cumming; grandchildren Ashlee Jaacks (Kyle), Matthew Salloum (Oksana), T. J. Martin, Austin Martin, and Ashley Audette; great-grandchildren Branson Willingham (Brittany), Lucian Tinsley, Xander Martin, William Willingham, Kira Salloum, Sophie Jaacks, Gavin Rucker, Aiden Rider, Kady Salloum, Fletcher Jaacks, Piper Salloum, and Andon Jaacks. Also surviving is his brother Roger Martin (Vickie), sister Helen Shadburn, and sister Susan Tallant (Perry) along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, May 8, at Ingram Funeral Home with Rev. Danny Bennett officiating. Interment will follow at Sawnee View Gardens. The family will receive friends from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm on Thursday, May 7, and from 9:00 am until 11:00 am on Friday, May 8 at Ingram Funeral Home, 210 Ingram Avenue, Cumming, GA 30040.