Arthur Wesley

Martin Sr.

Arthur Wesley (Wes) Martin Sr., 83, died peacefully at home in Wichita Falls on October 7, 2024. Wes was born on September 20, 1941, in Liberal, Kansas, to Harvey Gerald and Lois Louise (Herrington) Martin. Wes grew up around Plains, Kansas, and spent a lot of time on his grandparent's farm when he was young.  In his later years he often shared the good memories he had of those days. After a time, his parents divorced, his mother remarried Samuel Bittle, and Wes spent his junior high and high school years in Lawton, Oklahoma.

After graduating high school, Wes took a job working on the railroad in Cisco, Texas, where he met Judy Carolyn Poe, the "sweetheart" that would become his wife. He proposed on their third date, and they were married three months later, on March 3, 1961. They were married for 63 years at the time of his passing.

Wes learned the electrical trade from his stepfather and spent most of his adult life working as a master electrician, even owning his own company, Martin Electric, in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. He was a hard worker and labored tirelessly to provide for his family.

With his few free hours, Wes loved researching his family's genealogy and stamp collecting. Both passions continued even to his final days. He was a quiet man, but if you got him talking about the family's history he could go on for hours.

Wes was preceded in death by his parents, his stepfather, and his two older sisters, Judy Shamblin and Nila Matkin.

He is survived by his wife, Judy Carolyn (Poe) Martin, his son Arthur Wesley (Art) Martin Jr. and wife Ginna of Bonham, Texas, and his daughter Tracy Lea (Martin) Pond and her husband Keith of Wichita Falls, Texas, 11 grandchildren and a multitude of great grandchildren whose numbers just keep increasing. Wes is also survived by his three younger sisters Linda Miller, Rosemary Jones, and Sherry Hamra, and a younger brother Sammy Bittle, all of Lawton, Oklahoma.

Wes was a kind and loving husband, father, brother, and friend. His presence will be missed greatly by all of us who loved him.

Memorial service plans are currently pending. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Wichita Falls Baptist Church or Hospice of Wichita Falls.