Although I knew of David Martin as a student and graduate of Midwestern State University, I never had him as a professor and didn't personally know him until I was much older and met my soon-to-be husband Charles Fawcett, his brother-in-law, in December of 2010. Being invited to David and G-Ann’s home in Georgetown for a family Christmas celebration was my first introduction to his wonderful family. I have been blessed ever since to be a part of this “tribe”.
G-Ann and David played a big part of getting Charlie to move from Pennsylvania to Texas in his twenties to go to school at MSU, and then later to work with David in his Mister Mister sprinkler business. Throughout their lives, David and G-Ann encouraged others to learn and become the best they could be and they never stopped learning, exploring, and enjoying life together with everyone who crossed their paths. With David’s help, Charlie was influenced to get his irrigation license, and also learned to fly and obtain a pilot’s license. Charlie has fond memories of being in the cockpit to escort some of the family on a few of their adventures. I can see the influence that David and G-Ann had on Charlie throughout his life, and I am grateful that he had their support, encouragement, and love. That influence extended to their many niece and nephews as well.
Charlie speaks often of how David worked to better his community and influence changes that helped Wichita Falls progress. David had so many interests and talents and used those to jump in to help where he saw a need or a way to create a better community, whether it was in Wichita Falls or his retirement community in Georgetown. He proudly posted photos on Facebook of the wooden toys he and others crafted in the woodshop to donate to children at Christmas, as well as the tomato crops they tended in the community garden and harvested to donate to help a women’s shelter. Even with some mobility or health challenges as he got older, he was always ready to go places, see things, do things, and tell a good story…. and G-Ann was always right there with him!
David could make an adventure out of anything. If it couldn’t be a river cruise in Europe, a fabulous train ride, or a trip to the mountains or New Mexico and Colorado, then it might just be a trip to the grocery store. Whenever we were together with G-Ann’s cousins on our reunion trips to the beach in Outer Banks North Carolina, David would gladly volunteer to make the grocery store runs for whatever anyone needed. He loved going to the grocery store, and when I needed to get my supplies to make taco soup for the gang, he took pleasure in going with me to help. We shared a great time pushing our carts through the aisles and simply enjoying our hunt for ingredients while telling stories and sharing cooking tips in the process.
One of our frequent nightly activities at the cousin’s beach reunion was playing a friendly game of cards and marbles. We played on a handsomely crafted wooden game set made in the woodshop, and many fun memories were made catching up on family stories while contemplating our next move on David’s beautiful woodshop creation.
David created a lot in life, but he was most proud of the family he created and nurtured so well. He always glowed when he talked about his family, especially his grandchildren. He loved to share photos of their adventures and all the family fun, from golf cart rides and feeding fish, to Easter egg hunts and Christmas morning chaos.
Most of all, David shared how much he loved his beautiful bride of over 55 years. At every Valentine’s Day, birthday, anniversary, or for just any other reason he found to celebrate her, he did just that. He always touched my heart with the ways he honored and treasured her and his whole family.
In an October 2022 post, David shared a popular writing about how at birth we board a train and through life we share the ride with many different people. It goes on to say that we must live in the best way, love, forgive, and offer the best of who we are because when it comes time to vacate our seat on the train, we should leave behind great memories for those who will continue to travel on the train of life.
Thanks for the opportunity to board your train David, you will be greatly missed as we continue our journey without you.
All our love to G-Ann, Jenna, Jamie, and the rest of David's family. He left a wonderful legacy of love.
Karen Fischer
Charles Fawcett and family