Joe's History
Gone But Not Forgotten
Major Elmond Joseph "Joe" Martin died June 9, 2012 in Claremont, CA. Born January 28, 1943 in Brooklyn, NY, he was the son of the late Mary Louise Weisenberger and Elmond Lewis Martin. Joe was raised in Lexington, KY and graduated from Lexington Catholic High School Class of 1960, where he played baseball and basketball.
Joe entered the United States Air Force Academy on June 27, 1960. Following Basic Cadet Training, he was assigned to Cadet Squadron (CS) 04. Upon completion of his doolie year, he was reassigned to CS 06 as part of the expansion of the Air Force Cadet Wing. While at the academy, he pursued academic and military excellence and played varsity lacrosse.
Joe graduated from the US Air Force Academy on June 3, 1964, then reported for undergraduate pilot training (UPT) at Moody AFB, GA. Upon graduation from UPT, Joe was assigned to B-52s. In November 1967 at age 24, then-1st Lieutenant Martin was the youngest ever B-52 aircraft commander in the Strategic Air Command. Joe served 3 tours in Viet Nam, 2 in B-52's and one as a forward Air Controller in-country.
His civilian career started with Eastman Kodak in 1977. He retired in 2007 as director of operations for H Koch & Sons in Anaheim, CA. His life was his family, and his passions were cameras and fishing.
Joe is survived by his wife of 44 years, Karen; daughters Kim Martin, London U.K. and Jill Murwin (Bill), Reno NV; and grandsons Austin and Ian Murwin of Reno, Nev. He was preceded in death by brother Mike, and is survived by brothers Robert, Portland OR; Lynn (Martha) Midway; Jerry (Lisa), Lexington; and sister Betty Blakey (Millard), Lexington. Internment will be at Riverside National Cemetery, CA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to one's favorite charity.
(Adapted from an obituary notice published in Lexington Herald-Leader on June 17, 2012)
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