James “Jim” E. Martin, age 88, of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away peacefully on April 26, 2026 under hospice care at Overland Park Regional Hospital.
Jim was born on February 7, 1938 to Phillip A. and Sarah Grace Martin of Little Rock, Arkansas and was the third of four children. He graduated from Little Rock Central High School in 1956 and married his high school sweetheart, Carolyn (Hundling) Martin. He then graduated from the University of Arkansas and pursued a life-long career as a controller with Sears Roebuck & Co., raising his two daughters, Becky and Susie, throughout several promotions and transfers around the midwest during his 33-year career. After his wife Carolyn passed in 1990, Jim retired from Sears and settled in Kansas City to be near his family. He then worked as an ambassador at several golf courses in the Overland Park and Lenexa areas as well as a chauffeur for Enterprise Car Rentals.
In his free time Jim loved to travel, play golf, watch sports on TV (especially pro golf, the Chiefs and Royals, Arkansas Razorbacks, Kansas Jayhawks, and Nebraska Cornhuskers) and spend time with family and friends. Throughout his later struggle with dementia and cardiovascular disease, his mind and heart remained full of love for his family which was most important to him.
He is survived by his sister Mary Bentley of Austin, Texas, his daughters Becky (Randy) Hansen of Lincoln, Nebraska and Susie (David) Dyer of Prairie Village, Kansas, his longtime companion of over 30 years Pat Ritsch of Overland Park, Kansas and her daughters Cindy (Lance) Hathaway of Olathe, Kansas and Linda (Craig) Charles of Overland Park, Kansas, along with numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces and other extended family whom he loved dearly. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Carolyn, brother Charles and sister Sarah Grace Meeks.
A family celebration of life will be held at a later date, followed by private interment in Little Rock, Arkansas. Memorials are suggested to the family for later designation.
