Robert "Bob" William Martin

Services for Robert William (Bob) Martin, 73, of Tyler will be held on Saturday, November 21st at 2:00 p.m. at the Stewart Family Funeral Home with Pastor Travis Wright officiating. Visitation will be immediately after the service. A family graveside interment will be held at Rose Hill Cemetery later next week under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Convictions mold the destiny of lives and so it was with the life of Bob Martin. He was born in Abilene, TX, on March 19, 1942. He graduated from Abilene High School in 1960 and McMurray University in 1965, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. In June 1966, Bob joined the U S Air Force and received military training as an air transportation specialist at Sheppard AFB, TX. From October 1966 to October 1969, he was assigned to RAF Mildenhall, England. He completed his active duty enlistment in October 1969 and received an honorable discharge from the Air Force, having attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. In September 1971, Bob joined the Air Force Reserve at Carswell AFB, TX, as the training NCO for the 73rd Aerial Port Squadron (APS). From September, 1971 to September, 1991, Martin held numerous supervisory positions. During the twenty years that Bob served in the 73rd APS, he progressed in rank and was selected as the unit’s senior enlisted member, Chief Master Sergeant, in 1989. In September 1991, Bob volunteered to serve in an Air Force liaison position with the U S Marine Corps. From 1991 to 1998, Bob supported the Marines as an air transportation specialist at NAS Dallas, I MEF at Camp Pendleton, CA, and 29 Palms, CA. In addition to his lengthy military service, Bob served in the Social Security Administration in Tyler from 1973-1988. Following this time, Bob worked for the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. However, Bob’s professional career was only a part of the picture of his life. Bob was a devoted Christian and member of Green Acres Baptist Church. He possessed many wonderful attributes including dedication to his wife, Rose, son, Ryan Martin and his wife Jady and grandson, Miller, of Tyler, Texas along with relatives including Ken Bowan and wife, Bonnie, of Austin, TX. With a welcoming smile, twinkling eyes and ever positive attitude, he never met a stranger and was always ready to assist a neighbor or friend. Pallbearers will be Ken Bowen, Bob Cartwright, Jim Echols, Jim Hartung, Don Hood, Hal Hudgins, Bill Lesich, Jimmy Phillips and Kirk Wilson. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and many acquaintances. Bob was a lung transplant survivor, and the family wishes to thank the doctors and staff at University of Texas at Southwestern Medical Center for their efforts in extending his life which gave him the opportunity to be with his grandson, Miller. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes that donations be made in memory of Bob to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation at pulomonaryfibrosis.org.

Robert "Bob" William Martin

March 19, 1942 - November 18, 2015