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Irvan 'Tunny' Harold Martin Jr.
ENID — Rosary will be recited at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 29, 2011, with funeral mass following at 10:30 a.m. at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Okeene, Okla. Father Prabhakar Kalivela will be the celebrant. Pastors Mark Lilly and Nathan Twyman will be the eulogists. Wilkinson Funeral Home is providing the service. The cremains will be interred at Isabella Cemetery following the funeral.
Tunny was born Aug. 6, 1928, at the nine mile corner, east of Fairview on Highway 58. His parents, Ethel Simpson Martin and Irvan Harold Martin Sr., owned and lived at the gas station where he was born.
He was nicknamed Tunny for Gene Tunny, the heavyweight champion of the world, due to his father's love of boxing and his size at birth.
In 1945 he graduated from Fairview High School and in 1951 he earned his BS in engineering from Oklahoma State University. After college he worked for the State of Oklahoma, building Highway 8 between Okeene and Watonga. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1952 and trained as a bomber pilot. He flew A-26 Marauders during the Korean War.
After discharge from the Air Force he worked for Kaiser and the city of San Francisco as a civil engineer. Oklahoma called him back in 1965, when he returned to take over the farming operation from his parents.
In 1986 he married Betty Marie Pearson. To this union one son was born, Douglas.
During his lifetime he had many hobbies. He was an accomplished musician, playing the guitar, banjo and saxophone. His gun collection was well known, as well as his expertise at repairing and identifying guns and ammo. In the 80s he retired to flying. At the time of his passing he still owned a Beech Craft Bonanza.
On March 9, 2011, he was baptized by Pastors Mark Lilly and Nathan Twyman. He was ready to go, but we will truly miss him.
Tunny was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his wife, Betty; son, Douglas; father-in-law, Buel Pearson; brother-in-law, Bill Pearson and wife Diane; sister-in-law, Bessie Becker and husband Roger; nephews, Matthew Pearson, Andy Wedel and Randy Wedel; and niece Elizabeth Jackson.
(Submitted by family)
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