Joe "Sonny" Clyde Martin

Joe “Sonny” Clyde Martin was born in Temple, Texas on March 4, 1940 and passed away on October 5, 2018. He is the son of Ernest Drummond and Lily Jewel Martin. Joe is survived by his wife of 50 years, Gladys, four sons (David, Stephen, Curtis, & Nathan) and their families, as well as many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins living all over the country. He is now reunited with his mother and father along with his three sisters, Zelda DeCola, Mae Dean Lummus, and Louise Warren.

He grew up in Temple, Texas and joined the Army Reserves two weeks after his 17th birthday then transferred into the Army. He spent a total of 7 years between the two services where he earned several letters of accommodation and medals and spied on the Russians from the Aleutian Islands (just like Sarah Palin).

After the Army, he went to college at Sam Houston State University earning a Bachelor of Science Degree and a Master of Arts Degree. At Sam Houston he met the love of his life, Gladys. He went on to become a professor at the University of Houston in 1969 before moving on to the Houston Community College System. He spent many happy years teaching and discussing political science with several generations of our nation’s youth. He even co-authored a textbook during those years. He later became an administrator at the college and retired in 2008 at the age of 68.

He loved camping and fishing and shared this love with his family and friends. There were many trips throughout the years, all of which his family and friends had the finest memories. There were many trips to Lake Buchanan, Bend on the Colorado River, Lake Somerville, and the gulf coast. Sometimes just a road trip with his family was an exciting adventure like driving to Mexico to buy boots or driving north until we saw snow. He loved baseball and shared that with his family as well. The Houston Astros were his favorite team. He would take his family to the Astrodome quite often, and his boys would explore the depths of that one-of-a-kind place while he enjoyed the game with his beloved wife.

Funeral arrangements will be held on Thursday, October 11, 2018 at American Heritage Funeral Home in Houston, Texas. Viewing will begin at 10:00 am with funeral services at 12:00 pm followed by the graveside service at Houston National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Alzheimer’s Association.

Links for donation sites:

• St Jude: www.stjude.org

• Alzheimer’s Association: www.alz.org/texas