Lafayette � A memorial service will be held
2 pm Saturday Sept. l, 2007, with visitation
with the family starting at 1 p.m.
in La
Chapelle de Martin & Castille in
Lafayette
for Lucien T. Martin, 89, who died
Aug. 27,
2007 at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional
Medical
Center.
Mr. Martin was born April 7, 1918 and was
the seventh of ten children born to
Sidney
J. Martin Sr. and the former Anais
Mouton.
He graduated from Cathedral High School
in
Lafayette in 1936. During the years
following,
he was employed by Lafayette Parish
Police
Jury where he did road and bridge construction
in Ward 3. He also worked seasonally
at Mary's
Syrup Mill. His military service began
in
1940 at Keesler Field, Biloxi, Miss.
when
he joined the Army Air Force. During World War II, he was awarded three Air Force
Air Medals for 15 combat missions and
70
combat hours over enemy territory.
He logged
a total of 1361 hours of flying time
while
serving as a navigator in the European
Theater
of operations. Toward the end of his
establishment,
he flew B-29 bombers with the 7th Bomb
Group
of the 8th Air Force. He attained the
rank
of Captain and was honorably discharged
in
1947. He served in the Air Force Reserve
until 1955.
Mr. Martin attended Saint Edward's University,
Austin, Texas, Tulane University, New
Orleans,
La. and the University of Southwestern
Louisiana,
Lafayette, La. where he received a
Bachelor
of Science degree in Electrical Engineering.
He married Melba Gene Brown on Sept.
8, 1953
in Belle Fourche, S.D. where he was
employed
by Atlantic Refining Company as Supervisor
of Field Operations. In 1958, he returned
to Lafayette where he was employed
by Phillips
Petroleum Company until 1978. After
he retired,
Mr. Martin did extensive research on
Acadian
genealogy and co-authored Remember
Us, a
profusely illustrated work with over
500
pictures, cattle brands, maps, signatures
and sketches.
He received the Mayor's Outstanding Citizen
Award in 1984. He was also recognized
for
his outstanding contribution to the
Lafayette
Centennial Celebration that year. In
1985,
he received an "Academy Award�
from
Acadiana Open Channel Television for
his
production and televised presentation
of
L'Histoire d'Anais, detailing his mother's
life. He attended Life Writing classes
at
the University of Louisiana for several
years.
His latest story, The Blanc Brothers,
received
recognition at the town of Scott's
centennial
this summer.
He was preceded in death by his parents,
Sidney J. Martin Sr. and Anais Mouton;
siblings,
Rodolph Martin, Frances Martin, Victor
Martin,
Wilfred Martin, Chester Martin and
Margaret
Harding, of Lafayette, La., and Noemie
Kopp,
of Edgerton, Wisc.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, the
former Melba Gene Brown, of Hayes,
La.; brothers,
Paul Martin, of Lafayette, La., and
Sidney
J. Martin Jr., of Opelousas, La.; his
daughters,
Claire English, of Vancleave, Miss., and Camille Martin, of Toronto, Ontario,
Canada; grandchildren, Lael English,
of Pensacola,
Fla., and Sadie Medina, of Ocean Springs,
Miss.; and great-grandchildren Ean
Lundy,
Siobaun English and Logan English,
of Atmore,
Ala.; as well as many nieces and nephews.
View the obituary and guestbook online at www.mourning.com
Martin & Castille-Lafayette, 234-2311.
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