William "Denny" Denver Martin

William Denver “Denny” Martin of Stratford, Texas, passed away peacefully under the care of Hospice at Hillside Heights Rehabilitation Center.

 Denny was born in Dumas, Texas, on October 27, 1956, to Bill and Pauline Martin. He grew up in Stratford, Texas, forming lifelong friendships throughout his grade school, junior high, and high school years. During high school, Denny served as a manager of the football team, sparking a lifelong passion for helping others. 

He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from West Texas State University in Canyon, Texas, in 1980. After college, he worked for the Texas State Comptroller. In 1985, following his father’s cancer diagnosis, Denny returned from California to Stratford to be with his family during his father’s final months. This compassionate act launched a distinguished 37-year career in emergency medical services, eventually becoming a licensed paramedic and serving as a state EMS regulator. His dedication to healthcare and public service touched countless lives throughout his career.

 Denny was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church, having grown up in Stratford and later joined the First Methodist Church in Canyon, Texas He had a love of singing with the Texas United Methodist Choir in Lubbock to singing in the First Methodist theatre in Lubbock, he had a great passion for religious music. 

Governor Rick Perry Named Denny Martin Texas Round-Up Fit Texan of 2009, he worked very hard to loose over 100lbs working with doctors and a personal trainer to achieve this. 

Family was the cornerstone of Denny’s life. He took immense pride in his nieces and nephews, delighting in their lives and adventures—from dragging Main Street Stratford with his little niece Brooke to letting nephews Trent and Brad test his limits with playful punches to his stomach, he would say to all the kids “Punch me as hard as you can”! They were all impressed! He cherished the time spent with nieces Lindsey, and Shelly, watching them riding “Baby Sue,” their grandmother’s three-wheeled bicycle. His love extended to great nieces and nephews, including his great-great nephew and great-great nieces, always eager to hear about their lives from childhood through adulthood.

 Denny is preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Pauline Martin, and his sister, MaryPat Williams and brother-in-law Bobby Searle. 

He is survived by his brother, Ted Martin of Amarillo, Texas, sister Kathleen Searle of Olathe, Kansas, brother-in-law Randy Williams of Stratford, Texas. Niece Brooke Winings and husband Khris of Dalhart, Texas, niece Lindsey French and husband Skeeter of Boerne, Texas, nephew Trent Searle and Wife Sarah of Omaha, Arkansas, nephew Brad Williams and Wife Lori of OKC, Oklahoma, niece Shelly Wedel and husband Matt of Olathe, Kansas. Great nephews: Kyler Winings and wife Sydney, Kade Winings, Will French, Trey Searle, Titan Searle, Jace Wedel, Zac Wedel and Austin Wedel. Great nieces: Gentry Durham and husband Johnathan, Gracee French, Emmi Winings, Morgan Kordyak and husband Hunter, Lani Savage and husband Nathan, and Paizley Williams Great Great Nephew Hayes, Great Great nieces Kallahan, Sammie and Harlan. 

Denny will be remembered for his generous heart, his devotion to family and community, and the joy he found in the lives of those he loved. A celebration of life will be held in August, coinciding with what would have been his mother’s 100th birthday. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Stratford EMS, 1109 Beaver Road, Stratford, Texas. 

Denny will be remembered for his generous heart, his dedication to family and community, and his unwavering joy in the lives of those he loved.