Gary Martin

Gary Martin (85) of Robinson, IL, passed away Thursday, October 10, 2024.

Gary was born on June 3, 1939, the son of Herman & Maxine (Burris) Martin. Gary grew up in the country outside of Hardinville, IL, where he enjoyed helping in the garden, roaming the woods, hunting, fishing, and camping.

He attended a one-room schoolhouse before continuing to Oblong High School. Later, his family moved to Robinson, where he attended and graduated from Robinson High School in 1956 at age 16. Immediately following his 17th birthday, he joined the Air Force, where he proudly served his country for 20 years from 1956 to 1976—specializing in setting up and operating radar sites, including inside the continental US, offshore along the east coast, the Philippines, and Alaska Remote Radar sites inside the Arctic Circle. He flew about 2,000 hours with the 551st AEW & C (Airborne Early Warning and Control) Wing in Lockhead RC-121 and EC-121 Constellations, including reconnaissance missions near Cuba during the Bay of Pigs Invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis. He served in Vietnam in 1966 and 1967 with the Tactical Air Control Team. Towards the end of his Air Force career, he served as a recruiter in Cicero, IL, near Chicago.

After retiring from the Air Force, he lived in South Carolina and worked for the US Post Office and a local telephone company. He enjoyed fishing and camping every chance he had. After returning to Robinson, he purchased his family home. Gardening, both flowers and vegetables, came naturally to him. He loved plants and the plants loved him. He was equally skilled at doing remodeling and repairs on his home and found great satisfaction in it. He also worked as an electrician for Mike Rippy (Rippy Electric).

He was a member of the VFW and American Legion. Until recently, the highlight of his day was going there in the mornings, having coffee, and visiting with his fellow veteran buddies.

Gary met Marilyn Hess in 1956 at a mutual friend's house in New Hebron, IL, while Marilyn was visiting relatives there. Gary was 16, and Marilyn was 13. They said it was love at first site. They carried each other's photos and wrote letters prior to and after Gary joined the Air Force. Once Gary had gone overseas, communication became more difficult and eventually ended. Although the fondness & memories remained, life went on. But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again in Robinson many, many years later. Vowing not to let this chance slip away, they were married on October 18, 2014.

Gary is survived by his wife, Marilyn; daughters, Denise Stacy and Sandi White; step-son, Bobby (& Machelle) Colborn; granddaughters, Jasmine Stacy, Brittany Martin, and Ariel (& Sergio) Ibarra, Ashley (& Travis) Kersting and Aubree Garner; great-grandchildren, Jaquan Booth, Jaylen Webb, Taliah Webb, Cecilia Ibarra, Amelia Ibarra, Elijah Kersting and Julian Garner; and sister-in-law, Lem Martin. Gary is preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Maxine; siblings Herman, Danny, Phyllis, Shirley, and Judy; son, Jeffrey Martin; and step-daughter, Melissa Monk.

Gary loved God, and his faith was an inspiration to those around him. His sense of humor, kindness, and gentle, loving ways will be missed by his family, loved ones, and everyone who knew him.

A time of visitation will be held from 12:30-2:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 26th, at the Goodwine Funeral Home in Robinson. A funeral service will immediately follow and be held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, with Pastor Butch Woods officiating. Burial will follow in the Robinson New Cemetery, where military rites will be provided by the Scott Air Force Base Honor Guard.