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Wallace W. Martin Carrizo Springs, TX QCWA # 21709 |
Wallace Wiley Martin was born on August 28, 1924, in Indian Gap, Texas to William Martin and Nora Harris Martin. He peacefully departed this life on January 25, 2018, in Carrizo Springs, Texas, at the age of 93 years and 5 months. He was preceded in death by his wife of 71 years, Mary Louise (Sissy) McClendon Martin. He leaves behind one son, Bill Martin (wife Pamela) of Carrizo Springs, and three daughters, Marilu Martin of Carrizo Springs, Nancy Martin of San Antonio, and Jeanie Martin Frasier (husband Bruce) of Carrizo Springs; four grandchildren, Jennifer Martin Stewart (husband Lee) of San Antonio, Mac Martin of Carrizo Springs, Rebecca Frasier (husband Michael King) of Austin, and Patrick Frasier (wife Gabrielle) of Austin, as well as two great grandchildren, Aidan Stewart and Clementine King. He was looking forward to the arrival of another great granddaughter in May of 2018.
Wallace Martin was a child of the depression and orphaned by the age of 14. He lived with older siblings until he graduated from Hamilton High School in 1941. He then enrolled at The University of Texas, where he was a diver on the UT swim team. After Pearl Harbor, at the age of 18, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps where he was trained as a navigator on the B-17. In early 1943, he was sent to England as part of the prestigious 398th bomb group. During the next 15 months, he flew 50 missions over France and Germany. His B-17 was shot down during this time and he was hidden from the Germans by the French Resistance. Some of the notable missions he flew were Omaha Beach on D-Day, Dresden, and Peenemunde. He completed fighter pilot training in 1944, and was to be sent to the Pacific Theater in a P-51. Fortunately the war with Japan was concluded before that happened.
He met Sissy McClendon on a blind date at the University of Texas vs. Texas A&M game in November of 1944, and they married the following June. After the war ended, he returned to The University of Texas and received his BS in Civil Engineering in 1948. He was a member of the Chi Epsilon and Tau Beta Pi honor societies.
Following graduation, Wallace moved to Carrizo Springs, where he joined his father-in-law in operating Dixondale Farms. During his 70 years in Carrizo Springs, he was a school board member, a Company Commander of the local National Guard unit, a director at Union State Bank, a Scout master, and a math and physics teacher when the school district could not find one. He also worked with Texas A&M in the development of the Yellow Granex and 1015 Super Sweet onions.
Wallace was an avid golfer and spent many enjoyable days with good friends at the golf course. He also continued his lifelong passion of working with wood, creating both large projects and small carvings.
Wallace lived a long, interesting, and full life and remained active until the last few weeks of his life. He faithfully attended the First United Methodist Church and spent many hours on his ham radio talking to his fellow hams worldwide. He will be sorely missed, but our memories of him and his guiding influence will last the rest of our lives.
Donations in his memory may be made to the First United Methodist Church, PO Box 301, Carrizo Springs, TX, 78834.
Reverends Thad McGehee and Jacob Hunter officiated the service at First United Methodist Church on January 30, 2018, under direction of Leonard Funeral Home, a member of the International Order of the Golden Rule.
Pallbearers for the service were Mike Campos, Mark Cartwright, Steve Hester, Tom Hester, Mack Mandell, Thad McGehee, John Petry, and Carter Speer. Honorary pallbearers were Ken Bradshaw, Betsy Tocquigny Campbell, Jeanelle Eardley Coleman, Dick Dobie, Becky Tocquigny Major, Erin Gardner Bowman, Tara Gardner Eastland, Sean Gardner Turner, Thetis Gardner LeMaistre, Dana Gardner Wilson, and Megan Gardner Pipes.
Wallace Wiley Martin, longtime head of Carrizo Springs, Texas-based Dixondale Farms, died recently.
Wallace Wiley Martin, a longtime grower of onion transplants at Dixondale Farms in Carrizo Springs, Texas has died.
Martin, 93, died Jan. 25.
Martin was one of the growers assisting Texas A&M University in developing the yellow granex onions, and the popular 1015Y Super Sweet, according to his obituary.
Martin, an orphan at 14, joined the Army Air Corps at 18 and was involved in 50 missions over France and Germany as navigator of a B-17 bomber during WWII. When his plane was shot down, the French Resistance hid Martin from German soldiers.
After the war, Martin met and married Sissy McClendon, later moving to Carrizo Springs to work with his father-in-law at Dixondale Farms in 1948. In the late 1960s, according the company.s online history, Dixondale Farms focused on onion transplants. In 1982, Martin.s son-in-law, Bruce Frasier, joined the company, where he is now president.
Martin is a recipient of the Texas Vegetable Association Lifetime Achievement Award and was inducted into the 2016 Texas International Produce Hall of Fame.
Survivors include a son, Bill Martin, and daughters Marilu Martin, Nancy Martin and Jeanie Martin Frasier.
Donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 301, Carrizo Springs Texas, 7883
Photo courtesy Bruce Frasier