Martin Hutira, Locust Valley, Barnesville recently celebrated his 94th birthday.

He was born Oct. 23,1920, at the homestead in Locust Valley to John Hutira and Anna Sako Hutira, both originally from Czechoslovakia. He had one older sister, Sue Dougherty, and two older brothers, John and Steve, all deceased. He has one younger brother, Paul Hutira of Orwigsburg, who also just celebrated his 92nd birthday.Martin attended local schools until eighth grade when he went to work in the mines, and later into the service. He was an ammo man in World War II and a translater in Czechoslovakia.When discharged, he worked again in the mines and bootlegged with his brothers, and worked on the family farm.Eventually he stopped mining and farmed full-time.He met his wife, the former Helen Swindro from Harleigh, during a dance at the Lakeside Ballroom in 1947. They married six months later and resided at the farm.They had one son, Martin. They were married for 58 years until the passing of Helen in 2005.He enjoyed working on the farm, taking care of his garden, and spending time with his son.He has three granddaughters, Tammy Hornung and Joy Gambone, both of Barnesville, and Hope Green of Maryland. He has three great-granddaughters, Hailey, Madison, and Brooke Hornung; and three great-grandsons, Michael and Luke Gambone, and Benjamin Green.