Lacy Franklin Martin Jr.

Lacy Franklin Martin, Jr., son of the late Lacy Franklin Martin, Sr., and Arldena (Bragg) Martin, was born on September 28, 1937 in Oak Hill, West Virginia, and passed away peacefully in his sleep on September 18, 2007 in his home near Mtn. Grove, Missouri, at 69 years of age. His body was donated for cancer research.
Lacy served his country as an air traffic controller in the United States Air Force and retired as a Technical Sergeant in 1975 after twenty years of honorable service. He was united in marriage to the former Erika Schaefer on November 24, 1958 in Furstenfeldbruck, Germany. Three children were born to this union.
Lacy learned to fly before he had a driver’s license: He earned his pilot’s license at age fifteen, and was an active pilot for over fifty years. He was known locally for flying his gyrocopter, and was an active member of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). Lacy was a founding member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 3770 in Mtn. Grove, Missouri, where he was an active member. He served as the Post Armorer, and also was a caller for their weekly bingo night.
Lacy was an avid firearms enthusiast. A lifetime member of the National Rifle Association (NRA), he enjoyed visiting with his neighbors and friends, discussing firearms and shooting.
Lacy owned and operated Martin’s Hydraulics, a shop behind his home, for more than twenty years. Known throughout the region for the quality of his work, his door was never closed to a customer in need.
Lacy was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, friend, and neighbor. He will be truly missed by those who knew and loved him.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother-in-law: Hans Wahlen of Duren, Germany.
He is survived by his loving wife of forty-nine years, Erika Martin of their home; two sons: Dean Martin of Mtn. Grove, Missouri, and Carl Martin and his wife, Lou Ann, of Harker Heights, Texas; one daughter: Annette Tesch and her husband, Greg, of Mtn. Grove, Missouri; two brothers: A.W. Martin and his wife, Linda, of Mount Hope, West Virginia, and James Martin and his wife, Gail, of Maryville, Tennessee; one sister: Lois Powell and her husband, Ken, of Tulsa, Oklahoma; one sister-in-law: Doris Wahlen of Duren, Germany; four grandchildren: April Martin, Carl Robert Martin, Elizabeth Tesch, and Karl Tesch; and a host of other relatives and friends.