David Martin

1941 - 2021

David Martin
January 29, 1941 - March 26, 2021
Long Beach, Mississippi - David A. Martin, 80, died peacefully at home surrounded by family on Friday, March 26th.
David grew up in Marshall and Springfield, MO and graduated from the Missouri School of Mines in 1964. David, an Aerospace Engineer, enjoyed a long career working for NASA at various locations including the MSFC in Huntsville and the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. He settled in Long Beach, MS in the mid 1970's and finished out his long and historic career at the Stennis Space Center in Hancock County, retiring in 1994.
Fiercely Patriotic, David was very proud of the work he did for America's Space program. Most notably, he was a lead engineer on the Saturn V, the rocket that propelled American Astronauts to the moon in 1969. His work at Stennis Space Center was a continuation of America's space program, working as a lead engineer on the Main Engine Testing for the Space Shuttle missions. In recognition of his contributions to America's aviation and space exploration, David's name is inscribed on the National Air and Space Museum's Wall of Honor as a permanent testament to his commitment to and passion for flight.
David enjoyed flying, country music, old cars, tinkering on engines of all types, and in his younger days, fishing and boating in the Gulf waters off the Coast of Mississippi. He was a fiend for ice-cream, any flavor. David loved animals including cats, dogs, raccoons and meerkats. An avid fan of the original Star Trek series, David also enjoyed old Westerns, usually with his beloved 16 year old cat Blackie in his lap.
David was preceded in death by his parents, William and Olive Martin, his high school sweetheart and life-long companion Donna Criswell, and his beloved cat Blackie just three weeks ago. David is survived by daughters Katy Criswell (or Kat as he called her), Long Beach, MS and Julie Govan (Denis), Dunedin, FL, and his good friend Loyce Benge.
The family would like to thank Anna Hopper and Canon Hospice of Gulfport, MS for their compassionate care. In keeping with David's request no formal ceremony is planned.