Colonel Edward Martin, Usaf (Ret.)

Col. Edward Martin, 72, passed away on Sunday, March 1, 2009.

Col. Martin was born on March 7, 1936 in Georgetown, Illinois, the son of Carl and Margarite Martin. He enlisted in the U. S. Air Force at the age of seventeen, graduated from Officer Candidate School (OCS) in 1959 and went to become a pilot. In 1960, he married Mary Ann Thigpen of Chatahoochee, Florida. In 1962, they had their first child, Amanda (Mandy), and their son, Gary, joined them two years later. Ed went on to serve in the U. S. Air Force for thirty years, mainly flying B-52s and his service included a tour in Vietnam, while stationed at Robins Air Force Base. He retired in 1983, was awarded the Legion of Merit and moved to Warner Robins.

Ed worked as a realtor at Golden Key for several years; then his community commitment led him to successfully run for mayor of Warner Robins, a post in which he served two successive terms. In retirement, he was a faithful member of Christ United Methodist Church where he served on the finance committee. He was a lifetime member of the Optimist Club, a lifetime member of the American Cancer Society, a Mason and actively involved in the Order of the Daedalians.

He loved to golf, to take his grandchildren fishing and to travel; most of all, he loved taking care of his wife Mary Ann and doing whatever he could for his family. He was preceded in death by both of his parents.

His presence and love for life will forever be remembered by his loving wife, Mary Ann, Warner Robins; daughter, Mandy (Darrel) Straham, Warner Robins; his son, Gary (LiAnne) Martin, Warner Robins; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be Tuesday, March 3, 2009 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at McCullough Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 4, 2009 at Christ United Methodist Church. Pastors Jim McIlrath, Kathy Israel-McLeod and Tommy Martin will officiate. Interment will follow in Andersonville National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Christ United Methodist Building Fund, 511 Russell Parkway, Warner Robins GA 31088.


Funeral Home:
McCullough Funeral Home
417 S. Houston Lake Rd.
Warner Robins, GA
US 31088