He was born in Lillian on May 5, 1924, to Joseph Franklin and Ruthie Mae Martin. Mr. Martin served in the 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army during the D-Day Invasion of World War II. He was a prisoner of war, a Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient, and a man of great generosity and personal integrity.
Mr. Martin accepted Christ as his personal savior when he was 12 years old at a revival meeting at Lillian Church, and was baptized in water tank #2 by the tracks in Lillian. He served The Lord at Handley Baptist Church in Fort Worth.
Survivors: He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Drucilla Martin; his daughter, Lesa Guerrero and his son-in-law, Francisco Guerrero; his brother, William Ned Martin; grandchildren, Joseph Martin Reeves, Jerod Reeves and Sarah Patterson and their wives and husband; two great-granddaughters; many nieces and nephews; and hundreds of others whose lives he touched.
