Tom Elwin Martin 1931-2020

Tom Elwin Martin, born Sept. 8, 1931, went home to be with our Lord and Savior on June 23, 2020. Tom was born in Evadale to his parents, William Claude and Rose Bernice Martin. He enlisted in the Navy on Nov. 20, 1950. He was assigned to the U.S.S. Estes where he was ship’s serviceman seaman USN-1 until he was discharged on July 15, 1954. He married Barbara Burkes Martin on Sept. 3, 1955 at Forest Hill Baptist Church in Quitman and was happily married until her passing on Aug. 14, 1999. 

Tom was in the Navy from 1950-1954, part of the Flora Lodge #119 AF & AM and was a firefighter for the Houston Fire Department for 33 years. After the death of his first wife, he married Rhonda Jane Poe on April 13, 2001 in Eureka Springs, Ark.  

He is proceeded in death by his first wife, Barbara Martin; parents, William Claude and Rose Bernice Martin; brothers, Jerry Martin and Bruce Martin; and sister, Dixie Heathman. 

Tom is survived by his daughter, Sherry Bell (Mark) of Emory; wife, Rhonda Martin of Sulphur Springs; sister, Charlotte Woolems of Jasper; granddaughters, Stacy Kistler (Daniel) of Rockwall and Jennifer Bell of Garland; great-granddaughters, Emma Grace and Madelyn Belle Kistler; and many other family members and friends whose life Tom touched. 

Visitation was held at Lowe Funeral Home on Thursday, June 25, 2020 from 3-8 p.m. Graveside service was held at Roselawn Cemetery in Mineola on Friday June 26, 2020 at 10:30 a.m.