W. Arnold Martin of Irving, TX dumped earthly cares to trade in his hard hat and iphone for angel wings on Wednesday, October 18. A Devout Baylor Bear, hes having the ultimate Homecoming at the feet of Jesus and with sweetheart Alice. His 40-year Caterpillar Equipment career taught Arnold to bulldoze obstacles and surmount challenges. Founder is a recurring title on his biohe had a gift for organizing people around groundbreaking ideas to make worthy enterprises, for-profit or non-profit, happen. He viewed his 85 years as a ministry, and gave generously as a man who overcame poverty with faith, determination and higher education. Civic and lay leader extraordinaire, Arnold exemplified servant leadership, paving a legacy for his sons, grandchildren and hundreds of youth mentored as weekly Bible Study teacher, college admissions counselor, scholarships reviewer and employer. He truly knew everybody and found something to love in most, jotting down their ideas and listening intently. If he was your friend, you were luckier than a man with 2 billfolds! as he was apt to say. WA, Arnie, Dad, Koffee, Pop was born on November 26, 1932 in Sabine Parishs Many, (MAN-KNEE) LA where he received Christ at a Bro. Charles Williams Revival in 1941. The Holy Spirit was looking out for him when as a high school senior he was in a car accident he should not have survived. High school buddies carried him across the stage at graduation. A Southpaw, he played on Manys football team, basketball team, played in the marching band and daily milked the familys dairy cows developing a lifelong habit for hard work and early rising. Upon graduation, Arnold moved to Shreveport to work for Caterpillar. Through the conniving work of a freshman Sunday School student and his niece, Martin was introduced to and fell in love with the Girl-Next-Door Alice Day Hargis (Mum). After marriage in 51, Arnold began teaching 12th grade SS at Pinecroft Baptist. In 52, Arnold was the first Pinecroft Deacon ordained. They moved to Lakeshore Baptist in 54, where he was 12th grade Sunday School teacher and enrolled at Centenary College. Arnold affiliated with Lakeshore Deacons and served as Brotherhood president. The next year, God said, Arise, take your family to Jerusalem-on-the-Brazos-- Waco and Baylor (for all you Phillistine Aggies and Canaanite Horns!) He opened a new store to begin his career at Darr Equipment Co. and transferred his degree pursuit to Baylor. Members at Grace Temple, the Martins taught Baylor students; he served as Deacon Brotherhood president. The couple lived in a series of Waco Fixer Uppers long before it was a show. While attending 7th & James Baptist on-campus, Arnold served as a Deacon, taught BU students and sang in the choir before earning his BBA in 61. In 64, Darr Equipment Co. moved the young Martin family to DFW and eventually Irving's Plymouth Park Baptist Church for the beginning of 50+ years of service. During this time, he has served as: - Deacon for 40+ years, receiving Honorary Life Deacon status in 2015 - worked with Singles - taught High School Seniors for 20+ years - New Hope Youth Choir Sponsor (and luggage truck driver) - Youth Camp sponsor for 10+ years (groups like Martin Marauders and Arnie's Army) - Sunday School director for Median Adults who grew to Senior Adults - Sanctuary and JOYful Noise Choirs - Missions Council - Family Care & Community Awareness - Benevolence Committee - Men's Prayer Breakfast, Easter services in Las Colinas, Irving Prayer Breakfast - Assn. of Baptists for Scouting--National Chair; Circle Ten representative; Philmont Scout Ranch Faculty; Silver Good Shepherd Award recipient; Troop 183 Organizer - Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board and Chair, Emeritus Service Recognition Committee - Salt & Light Award recipient - Board Member, BBMOI (Baptist Benevolence Ministries of Irving) - Facilitated Urban Hills Churchs use of Las Colinas Country Club in its infancy And anything else God asked him to do. He is preceded in death by his parents, Ida Elizabeth (Cobb) and James Thomas Martin, 3 sisters, a brother James Estes, 2 nieces and 3 great-nephews. His loving wife Alice Day (Hargis) Martin went before him September 29, 2008. Arnold is survived by his 2 sons and their families: Karl and Karen, Kamille, Kameron and Lindsey, great granddaughter Kyler Alice; Kevin and Mark McGrath. Left to cherish his memory are 12 nieces and nephews he adored, many great-nieces and great-nephews, scores of friends, colleagues and young lives discipled. In recent years, Arnold and we were blessed by the affection of companion Frances Kaiser of Irving. Frances looked after him, accompanying him to the many civic, church and Friday night dinners/receptions/meetings that Arnold insisted on attending. She nagged when necessary, consoled when required and called when concerned. Pop loved God, his family, our country, teaching and studying the Bible, weekly golf and Arnold Martins (aka Palmers) with his Las Colinas Country Club 4-some, Tom Landrys Cowboys, red beans & rice, catfish,), pot liquor, Sissie Burger Wednesdays at Big State, all things Baylor, punctuality and most assuredly, Irving, TX. Of the 10 jackets in his closet, 8 of them have Irving-related lapel pins still affixed. PROFESSIONAL, CIVIC & COMMUNITY SERVICE: - Supplied Caterpillar equipment constructing DFW Airport as Darr Equipment VP (now Holt) - Member of Relocation Task Force recruiting Boy Scouts of America National Headquarters to Irving - Baylor University--Bachelor of Business Administration, 1961; Old Main Society; Bear Foundation; Development Council; Hankamer School of Business Advisory Board and Founder, Texas Family Business of the Year Awards Program, Institute for Family Business - Mid-Cities Advisory Council Chair; Advisor, BO Baker Scholarship - Bible Study Fellowship, Colleyville - BBMOI (Baptist Benevolence Ministries of Irving) Board - Dallas Cowboys Season Tickets Holder, Fair Park to Texas Stadium - Henry Holmes Breakfast Forum Moderator - Irving Independent School District Trustee, 85-91; President, Secretary, and VP (twice)The Irving Schools Foundation was launched by the board during his tenure. - Irving Healthcare Foundation Founding Board, 1977; Board terms, 1977-1986 & 1988-1996 - Irving Prayer Breakfast & Williams Square Easter Services Steering Committees - Irving Planning and Zoning Commission - Irving Convention & Visitors Bureau Board & High-Spirited Citizen - Irving Community Concerts & Lyric Stage Patron - Irving Chamber of Commerce, 2-term Chair - Irving Heritage Club Board of Directors - Irving Junto (Benjamin Franklin inspired-mentoring group and thinktank) - Irving Republican Club - Irving-Las Colinas Rotary Club20 years Perfect Attendance; Paul Harris Fellow; Exchange Student Host - Irving Schools Foundation Fellow and Scholarships Reviewer - Irving Symphony Orchestra President, 1976-1978 - Irving Fire Foundation Scholarships Reviewer - Keep Irving Beautiful Committees - Irving Kiwanis Club & Jaycees - Las Colinas Associations University Hills Homeowners Association President 1995-2014 - Las Colinas Country Club & La Cima Club Member - Texas Motor Transportation Association (TMTA) offices and committees-Austin - Texas State Technical Institute Advisory Board-Waco - Trophy Club Country Club Founding Board Member and later Chairrode in pickup with PGAs Ben Hogan to map golf course - University of DallasAdopt a Student - Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas Board of Directors - P.E.O. BIL (Brother in Law)Chapter CN, Irving - Member, Farine, Travis & MacArthur PTA; Supported Irving Boys Baseball Association, MacArthur Choir/Golf/Drama, Irving Hockey Association (Wolfpacks) When 2-3 civic engagements coincided, rather than choose which one to skip, he would put in an appearance at them all! A Depression baby, he begged us to save the paper when opening presents. Upon retiring from Darr, he joined the faculty of Baylors Hankamer School of Business Family Business Institute drawing from experience as a non-family member executive. Hes driving around Heaven on a Gold Caterpillar tractor surveying his forever home and reconnecting with loved ones gone before. A memorial service is set for 11 AM Friday, October 27 at Plymouth Park Baptist Church, 1714 N. Story Road, Irving. The Martin family suggests memorials to: Plymouth Park Baptist Church Missions; the BO Baker Memorial Scholarship @ Baylor University or Irving Healthcare Foundation SERVICES

Memorial Service

Friday, October 27, 2017 11:00 AM

Plymouth Park Baptist Church 1714 N. Story Road Irving, Texas 75061