Walter Larry Martin's Obituary
Services for Walter Larry Martin, 64, of Longview, will be held at First Baptist Church of Longview, Monday, April 27, 2009 at 2 p.m. with the Reverend Tim Watson officiating. Burial will follow in Rosewood Park Cemetery. The family will receive visitors from 6-8pm Sunday at Rader Funeral Home.
Our beloved Larry Martin passed away Wednesday, April 22, at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas after a lengthy and courageous battle with congestive heart failure.
Born in Lamesa, Texas, on October 9, 1944, and graduating from Plainview High School in 1963, he then attended Texas Technological College where he received a Bachelor of Advertising Art, Design and Management degree in 1968. While in college he worked as an administrative assistant for the city of Plainview receiving his first taste of city government. In 1968 he entered the United States Naval Ordinance School serving two years in air intelligence in Vietnam where he received the U.S. Navy Citation for Meritorious Service. Upon leaving the Navy he returned to Plainview and became Assistant City Manager in 1970.
In November of 1973, he moved to Longview with wife Peggy to become assistant city manager for the next four years. On October 16, 1977, Larry was named to the city manager position, serving our great city until March 15, 1980, when he stepped down to enter banking. During his 20 years with Texas Bank and Trust he was first Vice President of Commercial Lending and then Senior Vice President. He completed his formal banking education at the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at S.M.U., and on October 1, 1999, he joined the team at Southside Bank as a Senior Vice President.
Beyond his years of guiding Longview through a period of rapid growth, Larry?s civic involvement was extensive and productive. A few of the organizations and committees to which he extended his time, love and expertise include: Longview Regional Medical Center, Heart?s Way Hospice; Longview 2020; American Heart Association of Longview, American Cancer Society, Longview Chamber of Commerce, Greater Longview United Way, East Texas Builders Association, East Texas Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Longview Museum of Fine Arts, Pinecrest Country Club, East Texas State University at Texarkana, the Masons 32 degree Scottish Rite, and First Baptist Church of Longview.
He was preceded in death by his precious wife of 30 years, Peggy Bryant Martin; his father, Clifton Harvey Martin; and his mother, Thelma Etta Meeks Martin.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Lynda; his brother, Clif Martin and wife Susan of Austin; his nephew, Courtney Martin of New York City; his niece, Alissa Davies and her husband Matt of Austin; his nephew, Mitch Martin of Austin; two grandnieces, Skylar and Whitney Worthington of Austin; aunt and uncle Jean and Del Meeks of Lubbock; aunt Fran Meeks of San Angelo; numerous treasured cousins and extended family; and one angelic golden retriever.
The family wishes to express tremendous gratitude for the compassionate and skilled care he received from the physicians, nursing and support staff of Baylor Medical Center and Longview Regional Medical Center.
He took good care of you, Longview, and you took good care of him. He has left his mark on our city and in the hearts of so very many people. He lived with integrity and with unparalleled sincerity but above all else, he was kind. We will never stop missing you, our dear Mr. Martin.
Pallbearers will be Fred Koenig, Bob Dyer, Mike Northcutt, Mel Reynolds, Bruce Swank and Tuck Kemper.
Memorials may be made to the Highway 80 Rescue Mission of Longview at P.O. Box 3223, Longview, Texas 75606, or the American Heart Association of Longview.
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