Martin Stryker Tidwell

Martin Stryker Tidwell passed away peacefully in his Salt Lake City home on October 7, 2014 just before his 101st birthday.  Born on October 27, 1913 to John and Lillie Tidwell in Carlsbad, New Mexico, Martin spent his childhood in Kansas.  He graduated from Missouri Military Academy and earned a B.A. in psychology and a double minor in Military Science and English from Wichita University.  Martin got his first driver’s license when he was ten years old, and drove for over 87 years without receiving a traffic violation.  He reported for duty as an officer in the 40th Division of the United States Army on December 6, 1942, the day before Pearl Harbor was bombed, and served for the duration of World War II.  He was stationed in Hawaii and Japan as the commanding officer of the 279th Signal Pigeon Combat Company, and retained a love of pigeons throughout his life.  He retired from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel.  A faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Martin served as the financial clerk of the Ojai, California ward for over 21 years.   Martin was a beloved husband, father, and granddad.  He was a great storyteller known to say, “If you’ve heard this one before, don’t stop me because I love to tell it.”  He is preceded in death by his wife of 37 years, Venice Carlson Tidwell.  He is survived by his wife, Tressa Garn English, who he married in 1987.  He is also survived by his daughter, Karen (Clarke) Doxey; six grandchildren: Christine (Robert) Lerohl, Catherine (David) White, Carolyn (Addison) Webster, Robert (LeAnne) Doxey, Michael (Emily) Doxey, Steven Doxey; and 30 great-grandchildren.   Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 11th at 11:00 am. in the Allen-Hall Mortuary Chapel. Interment will be in the Logan City Cemetery. Condolences and expressions of sympathy may be extended to the family online by visiting www.allenmortuaries.net