Beckham County, OK - Obits: Glen R. Martin, 1919 18 August 2008 Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell) ********************************************************************* USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ********************************************************************* MARTIN, GLEN R. (6 Mar 1919, Elk City Newspaper, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK): GLEN MARTIN DIES OF PNEUMONIA IN GERMANY. Word was received here yesterday that Glen Martin, of Sayre, had died February 15th in a hospital in Germany from pneumonia. He is a son of J. C. Martin, formerly treasurer of Beckham county. Glen had a wide acquaintance in this county and his happy, jolly letters published in the Sayre papers were always read with great interest by his friends. His death is mourned by all Beckham county. He leaves a wife and child. Mrs. Martin is the assistant in the county assessor's office. His parents are living in Sayre. Later - Since the above was put in type, we received the following from our correspondent, Mrs. Mary Wall, at Sayre. The Grim Reaper which stalks about unheralded and unsung, reached out his hand yesterday evening and cast gloom and sorrow over our city, when Mrs. Glen Martin received a message from the War Department announcing the death of her husband, Sergt. Glen L. Martin, with the 90th Division in Germany, on February 15th. His death was caused by pneumonia. And again in a message just a few minutes later to Mr. and Mrs. Guidinger, who reside north of town three miles, announced the death, by accident, of their son, Felix Guidinger, also with the 90th Division in Germany. Sergt. Martin is the first of the boys from the town of Sayre to pay the supreme price, and his death is felt by the whole town. He had grown to manhood in our midst, and was always the life of any crowd with which he happened to be thrown. His former friend, Corp. Ernest Haggs, had just returned home after being discharged, and he took great delight in telling the mother of Sergt. Martin of the interesting experiences they had been through in France, Tuesday afternoon. And oh! what a climax for the bright memories which he awakened in her breast, for by eight o'clock they had received the news of his passing away. He leaves a wife, Mrs. Birdie L. Martin, who is Deputy County Assessor, and a little daughter, Margaret, aged 5 years, his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Martin, and four brothers. His wife, Mrs. Birdie Martin has recently purchased a new home and was counting the days until Glen would return home, and what a happy surprise she would have for him! And the little daughter lived only for the day "when my Daddy would come home, then I will have the best time, and he is going to bring me a French doll.! These deaths coming now when the war is over, seem doubly hard to bear, because it seemed that there was nothing to keep them from coming home in a few months, at most well and happy. They are now resting beneath the flag for which they fought so gallantly, and in the soil for which they went forth to help save. Those of us at home can only feel in a remote way the terrible longing which must ever be in the hearts of those loved ones who are left here, and who have realized in the fullest measure that their loved ones have not lived in vain. (14 Oct 1919, Sayre Standard, Sayre Beckham Co, OK): J. C. Martin received a telegram yesterday morning from the war department, at Washington, informing him that the body of his son, Sergt. Glen R. Martin, would arrive at Hoboken, New York, on October 20th, or next week Wednesday. Mr. Martin at once wired instructions to the department to have the body forwarded to this city for burial. This will be the first body of a deceased soldier returned from foreign soil and brought to Sayre and we believe to Beckham county, although there are a number of others who bodies are now arriving and among them it is possible that some other should reach this county in the next few days, and on which we have no data. In any event this will be the first to reach Sayre, and the local American Legion will at once take steps to see that a funeral service fitting the circumstances is held. Glen R. Martin, as every one here knew him, was one of Sayre's most popular young men, and served with distinction in France. He was one of the first five to leave Beckham county, going to Camp Travis and from there to France, and safely passing through the battles in which the 90th engaged, then going with the army of occupation to Germany. While out on a hunting trip he developed pneumonia, from which he died February 15th, 1919. (21 Oct 1920, Sayre Headlight, Sayre, Beckham Co, OK): The first message was issued to Mrs. Byrdie Martin and brought the information of the death of her husband, Glen R. Martin, of bronchial pneumonia on February 15th. The second message forwarded immediately, and was addressed to Frank Guidinger, carrying to him the news of the death of his brother, Felix Guidinger, also with the army of occupation in Germany. Both boys were well known and highly esteemed, and both had been though heavy action with the 90th division, and escaped without injury, and they themselves and their relatives and friends were looking to an early return to their homes. (28 Oct 1920, Sayre Headlight, Sayre, Beckham Co, OK): THE GLEN MARTIN FUNERAL. At National Cemetery Next Week, Friday on November 5th. J. C. Martin is in receipt of a telegram from the war department that the body of his son, Sergt. Glen R. Martin, will be burried (sic) at the National Cemetery at Arlington, Virginia, on Friday, November 5, the funeral services being held at 2:30 p.m. Arrangements for the proper observance of these ceremonies in Sayre will be made. (28 Oct 1920, Sayre Standard, Sayre, Beckham Co, OK): A telegram was received in this city last Thursday by Mrs. Byrdie L. Martin, wife of Sergt. Glen R. Martin, stating that the body of Sergt. Martin will be buried at 2:30 o'clock on Friday, November 5th, in the National cemetery at Arlington, Va. This information is in response to instructions sent last week by relatives here to have the body buried in the National Cemetery. The stores in this city will close during the hour of the burial on November 5th, in honor of the sacrifice made by this Sayre boy in the world war. (11 Nov 1920, Sayre Standard, Sayre, Beckham Co, OK): CARD OF THANKS We desire to express to the citizens of Sayre and Beckham county, our sincere thanks for the sympathy and respect shown us during the hour of the final funeral services of the remains of our Husband, Father, Son and Brother, Sergt. Glenn R. Martin, at Arlington Cemetery, Va., on November 5th, 1920. Mrs. Glenn R. Martin Margaret Martin J. C. Martin and Family N. E. Mitchell and family. --------------------------------------------------- Return to Beckham County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/beckham/beckham.html