Robert "Bob" Lee Willis

Martin

Robert Lee Willis Martin, 91, of Abilene, passed away on Monday September 28, 2026, in Abilene, Texas.

Visitation will be from 5-7pm on Tuesday, October 6th at the Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene, Texas. Funeral services will be held at 9:00am, Wednesday, October 7th at the Hamil Family Funeral Home with Pastor David Cason officiating. Burial with Military Honors will follow at 11:00am at the Texas State Veteran’s Cemetery, 7457 West Lake Road, Abilene, Texas 79601.

Bob was born on July 12, 1935, in South Bend, IN. His family moved to Milwaukee, and then West Allis, WI. He graduated from West Allis Central HS and joined the Marines in 1953. He served 14 months in Korea and in 1957 he joined the Air Force.

Bob met the love of his life Joyce Lee Jacquot in Biloxi, MS when he was going through Electronics School at Keesler AFB. They were married in Aug. 1958 and had three sons; Robert, Richard & Mark. After five years enlisted in the Air Force, Bob graduated from Officer's Candidate School in 1962 and then on to Pilot School. He flew KC-135's for 9 years and spent many months in SEA during the Vietnam war before retiring as a Captain, from service in 1974.

Bob & Joyce were stationed in Abilene, TX in Dec 1964 where Joyce taught 2nd grade for 33 years at Lee Elementary and Bob repaired electronic organs and installed sound systems for churches and homes and taught computers, lasers and fiber optics part time at Cisco Jr. College after retiring from military service. Bob was an active volunteer at Meals on Wheels, Grace Museum, and Frontier Texas.

Bob was preceded in death by his wife Joyce Lee Martin; parents, Willis Franklin Martin and Ella Minnie Martin; sisters, Betty Mae Dahm and Beverly June Mueller; and great-grandchildren; Solomon Jude Smith and Mira Michelle Smith.

He is survived by his sons, Robert L.W. Martin II & wife Kathy in Edmond, OK., Richard W. Martin & wife Patricia in Midland, TX and Mark W. Martin in San Diego, CA; grandchildren, Robert (Bobby) L.W. Martin III and wife Annie, Amanda Cook and husband Will, Katie Smith and husband Kyle, and Logan Martin; great-grandchildren, Lexi Martin, Landon Martin, Ellie Cook, Mila Cook, Judah Cook, Ezekiel Smith, and Gabriel Smith.

Pallbearers will be sons Robert, Richard, and Mark; grandson Bobby, and grandsons-in-law Will and Kyle. Honorary pallbearer is Don Jacobsen.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to: Abilene’s Meals on Wheels at https://www.mealsonwheelsplus.com/make-a-donation or at Noah Project at https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/noahproj 

Though we mourn his loss, we celebrate a long life, well lived, and legacy which will continue through the family he loved. We take comfort knowing he is now celebrating with Jesus face to face and look forward to the day we will be reunited with him.