Robert Martin

Robert Martin lost his three-year battle with NASH peacefully at his Mission, Texas home on August 10, 2022 while looking out onto his citrus grove and garden. Robert was a very determined, independent man of few words. He was devoted to farming, the citrus industry, gardening, cooking, family and his wife of forty years, Tina Rawls Martin. He saw their marriage as a team that brought strength to each other’s lives and impacted the community. He loved his pets Suki, Sake and Simi, and was able to see them before his final journey. Born in a rural farm house in Hickory County, Missouri, Robert was the youngest of four; Freddie Alan Martin, Kenneth Martin and Lavena Culbertson. As his older siblings had moved on, Robert was left to help manage the family dairy farm at a very young age. This helped to forge his independent nature. During this time, he began purchasing his own dairy cattle, and by the end of high school he bought his own dairy farm. He lived up to his Degree of American Farmer, the highest honor achievable in the National Future Farmers of America and the De Kalb Agricultural Accomplishment Award. Throughout his life he always enjoyed going back to Missouri annually to visit friends and family. Robert was devoted to the produce industry and the family business, Rio Queen Citrus. He loved working beside Ken and Sue Martin, Mike and Anna Martin and was delighted when his son, Ted Martin, came to work for the company. Robert and Tina Rawls met during the Texas Citrus and Vegetable Association convention in Seattle, and six weeks later they were hurriedly married so as not to interfere with the picking and packing of the citrus season. He was later honored as ‘King Citrus’ for Mission's Texas Citrus Fiesta. Robert loved to cook and entertain friends. He was always the first to say “come over and I’ll cook,”and he was famous for his clam linguine and chicken pasta. He used his culinary talents for the Rio Queen Christmas party, barbecuing for the Children's Advocacy Center, his famous grove dinner, and trying to out-cook friend Tina Atkins. Dinners with the Rawls clan were always a highlight. Most of his meals featured home-grown ingredients from his garden and green house. He helped several friends and family start their own gardens. In addition to family gatherings, Robert enjoyed hosting parties for non-profit organizations. Guests remember treasured party favors like his homemade orange marmalade direct from his grove. His great pride was a coveted barrel of homemade bourbon, aging to perfection in his barn. With his daughter Tillery Castillo, he spent hours creating menus for lavish holiday dinners, and was the first to agree to his wife's outlandish decor ideas for those fun family events. He could build anything, and his skills were often tested with these holiday extravaganzas. He never let us down. Robert loved to travel, especially with traveling buddies Erren Seale and Fernando Rivera. Together with Tina they explored Africa, Croatia, Nepal, Bhutan, Thailand and even rode a camel in the Moroccan desert. He also delighted in traveling with Tillery and son-in-law Joseph Castillo: Iceland, Lake Louise, the Amazon, Italy and San Miguel de Allende along with Dianne and Eric Rawls; with Brian and JoDon Rawls: Alaska, Peru, France and sailing the Galapagos, Fiji, St. Kitts and a British Virgin Island family trip. Only Robert could create an herb-infused leg of lamb roast on a sailboat! He loved black-tie events, especially New Year’s Eve. He enjoyed fishing and was always enthusiastic when Joseph came up with a trip. College basketball was his passion, especially UT Longhorns. Robert gave quietly to the community but his favorite organization was the Children’s Advocacy Center of Hidalgo and Starr Counties (CACHS). He worked tirelessly preparing the new CACHS center in Mission by cleaning, repairing and painting the building for child victims of abuse. The CACHS honored him several times for his dedication and contributions. Robert was passionate about his friends. He tried never to miss the Thursday night MCC dinner group and was a founding member of the ‘Bite Club.’ Always on his calendar was the Dead Pearl Society where old and new friends rejoined. His greatest daily joy was morning coffee at Diaz Diner with men he respected, enjoyed and (if truth be told) shared a little gossip. Among his last wishes was to go one more time—their love and support was unconditional. A recurrent saying about Robert among family and work associates was, “There’s the right way, the wrong way and Robert’s way—and you’d better do it Robert’s way!” It would be an honor if donations were made in Robert’s name: The Childrens Advocacy Center of Hidalgo and Starr County, 525 W. Wisconsin Rd, Edinburg, Texas 78531. NASH Liver Disease Research Baylor Scott White: Mail check: BSW All Saints Foundation, 1400 Eighth Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76104 Attention “IMO Robert Martin” or allsaintsfoundation.bswhealth.com/ways-to-give/donate-online. Under designation, select “Other”, type in “Dr. Gonzalez Research”.The bottom of this form is a spot to acknowledge that the gift is in memory of Robert Martin. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Tributes

Robert Martin

August 10, 2022