More detail on this person: "Colonel (Ret.) Donald R. Martin, 83, died peacefully at his home in Elizabethtown, KY on June 21, 2018. He was born on January 26, 1935 to the late Blanche (Alexander) and Russell Martin in Claremore, OK. He is a high school graduate of the Oklahoma Military Academy and college graduate of West Texas State University. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the US Army in 1956 and rose to the rank of Colonel (O6) in 1981, he retired and married his wife, Margaret (Small) Martin, originally from Leitchfield, KY. During his military career, he was rated in both fixed and rotary wing aircraft and commanded aviation units during two tours in Vietnam. He commanded the First Attack Helicopter Squad/Bn in the Army at Ft. Hood, TX. He was awarded Master Aviator Wings, the Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star, 37 air medals for combat missions in Vietnam, the Army Commendation Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal. After his retirement from the military, he volunteered as a service officer for the Veterans Administration helping veterans and their widows at Ft. Knox obtain deserved benefits. He served as a two term President of the Ft. Knox Retired Officers Association, was a Kentucky Colonel, Charter Member of Elizabethtown Baptist Church, a Sunday School Teacher at Severns Valley and E-town Baptist for many years and delivered patriotic speeches at several churches and schools in the Hardin County area. He was an avid sports fan, an excellent college football player and golfer for many years, and even "dabbled" as a rodeo cowboy in his younger years. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Margaret "Margie", brother Max from Fritch, TX, and was a father to three children (Rhett Martin, Tammi Richardson, Russell Martin (deceased)), a step-father to six children (Kim Massengill, Chris Johnson, Keith Johnson, Connie Riley, Karla Jones, Clay Johnson), a grandfather to sixteen and great-grandfather to nine children. He did everything possible to make sure each of them could pursue their dreams; but more importantly to him, he made sure that each of them knew that God loves them. The memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, July 2, 2018 at Nelson-Edelen-Bennett Funeral Home in Radcliff, KY with Chaplain James Michael Lewis officiating. Burial will be in Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Central in Radcliff. Visitation will be on Monday from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at Nelson-Edelen-Bennett Funeral Home, 2072 South Dixie Boulevard, Radcliff, KY. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of a donation in Col. Martin's memory may be made to: St. Jude's Children's Hospital, Wounded Warrior Project or InTouch Ministries." Source: Nelson-Edelen-Bennett Funeral Home, Radcliff, KY.
Burial information: Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Central, Radcliff, KY
This information was last updated 06/27/2018
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Date posted on this site: 10/13/2025
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