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BORN

1931

DIED

2017

FUNERAL HOME

Emerald Coast Funeral Home

161 Racetrack Rd NW

Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Martin Whitfield Obituary

Martin L. Whitfield

Martin L Whitfield, 86, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida passed away peacefully at home on October 11, 2017 after a brief illness.

Martin was born April 24, 1931 to Luther M. & Lonie (Ellis) Whitfield in Whitfield Community, Santa Rosa County, Florida. Raised on a farm with 3 brothers, Rufus, Maurie(d) and Gerald, hard work and love of family became two important themes of Martin's life. He attended Jay High School where he lettered in basketball and football. After graduation, he joined the U S Army and was assigned to Japan where he was later transferred to Korea at the beginning of the Korean War. After returning from Korea, he married his high school sweetheart, Edna Ruth Floyd, in 1951. Upon discharge from the Army in 1952, Martin and Ruth settled in Mobile, Alabama and began civil service careers at Brookley Air Force Base. Martin and family moved to Fort Walton Beach in 1966 where he worked at Eglin Air Force Base, retiring in 1987. Martin was an active member of First Baptist Church, Fort Walton Beach.

Martin is survived by his wife of 66 years, Ruth Whitfield; their two children, Jureta Whitfield Hyder (Jeff) of Fort Walton Beach and Richard (Diana) Whitfield of Collierville, Tennessee and granddaughters: Sabrina Whitfield Smith (Brian, great-grandson Tucker) of Collierville, Tennessee, Sandy Hyder Frederick (Matt, great-grandsons Hyder and Jackson) of Abingdon, Virginia, Rhianna Whitfield Berry (Jeremy, great-granddaughters Gavin and Makalyn) of Collierville, Tennessee, and Sara Hyder McGough (Daniel, great-granddaughters Sydney and Lucy) of Mobile, Alabama. Always a smile on his face, Martin was a devoted husband and father whose love, devotion and unquestioned support of his family will be deeply and lovingly missed.

A funeral service will be held Monday, October 16, 2017, at 2:00 PM at Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 161 Racetrack Road, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, officiated by Dr. Wes Yates. The family will receive visitors one hour prior to the service. Burial will immediately follow at Beal Memorial Cemetery, Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

Floral arrangements will be accepted or donate to the Lupus Foundation of America, https://www.lu pus.org/. Expressions of love and sympathy may be placed and viewed online at www.emerald coastfuneralhome.com

Express your condolences in our guestbook at pnj.com/obits

Published by the Pensacola News Journal on Oct. 15, 2017.
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Memorial Events
for Martin Whitfield

Oct

16

Visitation

1:00 p.m.

Emerald Coast Funeral Home

161 Racetrack Rd NW, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547

Oct

16

Funeral service

2:00 p.m.

Emerald Coast Funeral Home

161 Racetrack Rd NW, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547

Oct

16

Burial

Beal Memorial Cemetery

Fort Walton Beach, FL

Funeral services provided by:

Emerald Coast Funeral Home

161 Racetrack Rd NW, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547

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