Rodney Jay Martine met his Lord and Savior on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at the age of 60 years. He was born on August 18, 1964, in Hearne, Texas to his parents, Garland Wynn Martine and Ila Ruth "Ruthie" Barnett.

Rodney was a 1982 graduate of Bryan High School and graduated from Texas A&M University in 1988 with a master's degree in agriculture.

He began his teaching career in 1988 in the Conroe School District.  After 33 years of teaching, he retired from College Station ISD in 2021.  Throughout his teaching career, Rodney made a substantial impact on the students he taught.  He had students serve at all leadership levels of the Texas FFA Association to include multiple state officers.  Rodney was very active in supporting numerous state qualifying teams and state champions, serving on committees at all levels of the Texas FFA Association, he served as campus and district career and technology education committee member, he served as a supervising teacher to numerous student teachers from multiple universities.  Rodney also served as the Texas FFA state talent committee chair and was known for his poultry knowledge and string of successful student poultry producers, training numerous poultry judging teams.  After retiring from public education, he was inducted into the Agriculture Teachers Association of Texas Hall of Fame in 2022, he mentored new teachers through the Agriculture Teachers Association of Texas Mentor program and continued volunteering his time serving the Texas FFA and the State Talent Committee Chair. He also continued volunteering his time to the FFA by judging multiple events and activities.

Rodney was strong in his faith for his Lord and Savior.  He was a very active member of the First Baptist Church in Franklin, Texas serving as a photographer and running the sound system.  Rodney was a true servant and was always willing to help anyone he crossed paths with that needed help.   He enjoyed spending time with the youth, serving as a past youth minister.  He enjoyed fishing and hunting in his spare time but most of all he enjoyed the time spent with his family.  Rodney shared a special bond with his mother, and she was a very important priority in his life.  If he was not at his mother's need, he could be found spending quality time with his cousins or giving a helping hand with church activities. Rodney's presence will be missed by so many people, but the memories that were made will always be cherished until they meet him again.

Rodney is preceded in death by his grandparents, Clifton and Ila Ray Barnett, J.W. and Marian Martine, his stepfather, Alvin Schiller and his precious cousin, Emily Nichols.

Rodney leaves behind his loving mother, Ruthie Schiller of Camp Creek, his father, Garland Martine and wife Bettie of Bryan, step sister, Melissa Schiller of Bryan, step bother, Damon Schiller and wife Karen of Willis, aunts: Delayne Nichols of Wheelock, Ettie Orts and husband  Mike of Wheelock and Malta Wilkerson of College Station, special cousins: Shelly Speaks and husband Kenneth, Kimberly Becan and husband Charles, Chad Nichols and Kip Nichols and wife Kristy.  Rodney is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, other cousins and many friends.

Services will be held on Thursday, December 12, 2024, at 2:00 P.M. at the First Baptist Church's (Worship Life Center) in Franklin, Texas.  A visitation will be held from 12:30 P.M. until service time.  A burial will follow in the Wheelock Cemetery in Wheelock, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church P.O. Box 365 Franklin, Texas 77856 or to the charity of choice.