Following a brief marriage to his first wife, Olene Rebecca Proctor, whom he married in 1950 and later divorced before 1956, Ned Jarrett shared a 67-year marriage to his second wife, Martha Bowman, whom he married in 1956.
Ned Jarrett, the NASCAR Hall of Famer known as “Gentleman Ned Jarrett, is an American retired race car driver and broadcaster.
He was born on October 12, 1932, to parents Homer Keith Jarrett (1908-1983) and Eoline Marie (1910-2002).
Jarrett started his racing career in 1952 at Hickory Motor Speedway in North Carolina.
He made his first Grand National Series race appearance in 1953 at the Southern 500 at Darlington Speedway.
However, his last race was the American 500, Rockingham, in 1966. He retired from professional racing in 1966 at the age of 34.
After his departure, he transitioned into a successful career as a NASCAR commentator.
Ned Jarrett Was Married Twice In His Life
Ned Jarrett’s first wife was Olene Rebecca Proctor. They married on January 14, 1950, in Cherokee County, South Carolina, and had one child, Glenn Jarrett.
His first wife, Olene, worked as an office manager at Hickory Knitting Mills and later retired as a manager of the Battered Women’s Shelter in Conover. She passed away in 2014 at the age of 81.
However, they divorced between 1950 and 1956. Although the exact reasons for their separation aren’t well-documented, it’s known that they eventually went their separate ways. After their separation, Olene remarried with M.Dan Cannon.
Likewise, Ned married Martha Bowman on February 18, 1956, in Catawba County, North Carolina.
Despite his first marriage ending, Ned and his second wife, Martha, had a very long and successful marriage that lasted 67 years until her passing.
Martha Jarrett, 91, was a beloved matriarch of the Jarrett family who passed away on February 5, 2023.
She was the daughter of Adrian Curtis and Lena Evelyn Winebarger Bowman. Regarding her career timeline, she was an avid golfer, a Beth Eden Lutheran Church member, and a part of the ELCA.
Best parents ever ! Happy 65th anniversary to my parents Ned and Martha Jarrett. What a beautiful and handsome couple. .then and now !! pic.twitter.com/ReNxRb7P2d
— Glenn Jarrett (@GlennNJarrett) February 18, 2021
Martha and Ned Jarrett had two children, Dale Jarrett and Patricia Jarrett.
Dale followed in his father’s footsteps and became a successful NASCAR driver. He won the Daytona 500 three times and captured the 1999 NASCAR Cup Series championship.
On the other hand, very little information about Patricia Jarrett is in the public domain because she remained out of the public eye.
Martha Jarrett was known for her steady support of her family. She was also a significant figure in the NASCAR community and was deeply loved by fans and family.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Ned won the Myers Brothers Memorial Award multiple times (1964, 1965, 1982, 1983) and was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2011.
- He worked for Motor Racing Network as a pit-road reporter and co-anchored television coverage of NASCAR events.
- His son, Dale, became a successful NASCAR driver, winning the prestigious Daytona 500 thrice (1993, 1996, 2000).
