Gibson Martin's Obituary
Martin, Gibson was born on September 25, 1932 in Tulsa, Oklahoma and passed away on January 30, 2014 in Dallas, Texas. Gib was preceded in death by his parents, Villard Martin Sr. and Rose Gibson Martin, both whom were born in Oklahoma when it was known as Indian Territory, and his brother and sister Villard Martin Jr. and Mary Jo Berry Maxey. Gib is survived by Sylvia Williams Martin, his wife of 58 years, daughter Leslie Katherine Martin, daughter Carolyn Martin Fackler, her husband Bob Fackler and their children Kyle Robert Fackler, Sara Michelle Witcraft, Stephanie Rene Fackler, Michelle Lynn Fackler, and son Thomas Gibson Martin and Tom’s son Brock Thomas Martin. Gib and Sylvia Jean Williams met in 1954 while they attended the University of Tulsa and were married on June 25, 1955. Their first home was located in Ardmore, Oklahoma where Gib served in the Air Force as a 2nd Lieutenant and where their first child, Kathy, was born. Upon completion of his tour of duty, Gib relocated his family to Tulsa where he began his career in the oil and gas industry and enrolled in law school. He soon earned a promotion and in 1959 was moved to Oklahoma City where his second daughter, Carolyn, was born. Not long after they were on the road again, moving to Denver, Colorado in 1962. Gib was working full time at Sunray DX and attending law school in the evenings. Gib finished law school, passed the Colorado Bar Exam, and was admitted to practice. The next move took the family to Lafayette, Louisiana in 1964. Then, once again, in 1965 the family was on the move to Tulsa, Oklahoma where in 1967 their son, Tom, was born. The family attended Boston Avenue Methodist Church where Gib and Sylvia sang in the Chancel Choir. In 1970 the Martins moved to Richardson, Texas where they lived until 1974. The family joined the First United Methodist Church of Richardson where each family member was active in their respective choirs. Gib loved singing in the Chancel Choir and performing in the various musicals the choir produced. This was the beginning of Gib’s 40 year service in FUMCR’s Chancel Choir. Gib continued receiving promotions and in 1974 the Martins moved to Berwyn, Pennsylvania then back to Dallas in 1976. Not long after, in 1977, the Martins moved to Carmel, Indiana while Gib worked in the coal industry for four years, returning to oil and gas and Dallas in 1981. Gib retired from Oryx Energy in 1992, the same year he was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. During his retirement years, Gib spent his time traveling with his wife, singing in the Chancel Choir, playing golf and participating in the annual Berkshire Choral Program in Berkshire, Massachusetts. Gib’s greatest loves were his faith, family, singing and playing golf. In 2011 his beloved wife was placed in Silverado Senior Living where she is given round the clock love and care for Alzheimer’s disease. Gib’s memorial service will be held on Tuesday, February 4, 2014 at 3:00 PM at the First United Methodist Church in Richardson, Texas. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org
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