By Staff
Mr. Lester Martin, 88, died Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2009, at a healthcare facility. He was a native of Brewton, the son of the late B.C. and Marguerita Cooke Martin. He was a veteran of World War II, serving as an officer in the U.S. Army Air Corps and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was a commercial pilot after the war and later worked at Monsanto in Pensacola, Fla. He moved to Greenwood to start the Monsanto plant there in 1960. He retired in 1982 and sold real estate for a while. He was active in his community and a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters, Kathleen McCollum and Virginia Brown; and a brother, Carlos Martin.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years; his children, Les (Diane) Martin, Jim (Suzie) Martin, and Kay (Nick) Valaoras; grandchildren, Ben and Matt Martin and George and Kate “Sissy” Valaoras.
Graveside services were held Saturday, Aug. 8, at Oakbrook Memorial Park. Memorial services were held at 1 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church with Dr. Chris Leonard, the Rev. Debby Plumstead Marshall and the Rev. Larry Duncan officiating and Blyth Funeral Home directing.