Joe E. Martin (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Joe Edward Martin, son of Robert Clyde and Pearl Jane Shadrick Martin, was born October 21, 1928, in Lebanon, Missouri. He departed this life Thursday, March 22, 2018, in Lebanon South Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, in Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of eighty-nine years, five months, and one day.
On April 20, 1949, in Mountain Home, Arkansas, he was united in marriage to Patricia Vae Harrill, and to this union two daughters were born.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Theresa Renee Becker; and a sister, Lois Winifred Jones.
Joe is survived by his loving wife of almost sixty-eight years, Patricia, of the home; a daughter, Marcia Fry, and her husband, John, of Princeton, New Jersey; two grandchildren, Ashley Elizabeth Fry, and Phillip Becker; a brother, Jim Martin, of Lebanon, Missouri; several nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and many friends.
He was born and raised in the Lebanon area, and graduated from Lebanon High School in the Class of 1947. He then entered the military on April 20, 1948, and served his country faithfully in the United States Air Force for twenty years. He was first stationed at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, and then served in Montana, Alaska, South Dakota, and concluded his years in the military at Grand Forks Air Force Base, in Grand Forks, North Dakota. He retired as a Master Sergeant on April 30, 1968. He and the family then made their home in Kansas City, Missouri, where Joe worked for the Ford Motor Company and later retired from TWA. Joe and Patricia then moved back to Lebanon, Missouri, and Joe opened Martin’s Appliance Store, which later became Martin’s Heating and Cooling. He specialized in refrigeration repair and was excellent at it. He retired officially in 2010.
Joe was a longtime, active member of First United Methodist Church in Lebanon, where he was a member of the Elders Sunday School Class.
He was a member of the Audubon Society and greatly enjoyed bird watching. He also liked to go fishing, do woodworking projects, and work in his garden. He enjoyed studying astronomy and looking at the stars with his telescope. His family was very important to him and he especially enjoyed his daughter and grandchildren.
Joe was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and his accomplishments and know that his family and friends will treasure the wonderful memories he made for them during his eighty-nine years.
In Lieu of Flowers memorial donations to the Michael J. Fox Parkinson Foundation may be made through the funeral home.
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