Born during the crash of 1929, Robert Dale Martin ended life on this Earth June 24, 2010.
He survived the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl of the 1930's attending a one room schoolhouse in the country near Columbus, KS. Robert graduated in 1947 from Columbus High School where he played baseball and football, and was known as "Pepper Martin" among his peers. He attended Miami Community College in Miami, Oklahoma. During his college years, Robert was a boxer and won the Golden Glove award in 1948.
Later, Robert enlisted in the Navy during the Korean War where he trained as a pilot. During one solo training flight, the engine of the plane he was flying malfunctioned and Robert's plane crash landed. Robert walked away from that crash without help and with only a few bruises. The son of Robert Lawrence Martin and Cozy Anna Draeger, Robert married Wanda J. Wall in 1955.
He is survived by their children: Deborah, Donald, Douglas, Diana and David, sister Wava, brothers David, Virgil and Loren, 15 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.
During his professional years, Robert was a licensed life and health insurance agent and helped many people afford health insurance. He was also an avid hunter and fisherman and cherished time in the country in his home state of Kansas. Shortly after retirement Robert was stricken with Parkinson's Disease that kept him from doing many of the things he loved.
To honor the life of Robert, memorial contributions may be made online to Parkinson's Disease Foundation.
A visitation will be held July 8, 2010 at Old Mission Mortuary from 4 to 8 pm. Services will be held July 9. 2010 at 10 am also at Old Mission Mortuary.