Captain Martin Edwin Best

United Airlines Captain Martin Edwin Best, 51, of The Woodlands, Texas, topped the windswept heights and touched the face of God on November 22, 2013, after a courageous year-long battle with lung cancer. Marty was born in Little Rock on July 31, 1962, and developed his passion for flying at Little Rock Central High School, where at age 16 he became the nation's youngest Air Force Junior ROTC cadet ever to solo. He attended Henderson State University at Arkadelphia, where he served as a student flight instructor and was elected class president. While at Henderson he met beautiful Mary Ann Graf of Hot Springs, who became his devoted wife of 29 years. Three days after graduation he was in his first job, flying DC3's for Four Star Air Cargo in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. Subsequent assignments took them to Puerto Rico and then to Hawaii in 1987 when he was hired as a Flight Engineer by Continental Airlines. This gave him the unique opportunity to fly the DC-10 on far-flung routes like New Zealand, Australia, Guam, and Paris, France. He then transferred to Continental's base in Greensboro, North Carolina, where he was promoted to First Officer on the 737. After transferring back to Continental's home base of Houston, Texas, they became members of The Woodlands United Methodist Church, a transforming moment in their lives. Both became active workers for The Lord, developing a host of wonderful Christian friends. After Continental merged with United Airlines, Marty subsequently received the promotion he had dreamed of – Captain for the nation's largest airline. Captain Best is survived by his wife Mary; his parents, Pat and Eddie Best of Searcy, Arkansas; a brother, Dr. Tim Best and his wife Nancy and their son Daniel of Lake Charles, Louisiana; Mary's father, Charles Graf Sr. of Hot Springs, Arkansas and her mother Marilynn Graf and step-father Joe Johnston of Hot Springs; and many loving in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday, November 30, in Griffin Leggett Healey & Roth Chapel at 5800 West 12th in Little Rock, followed by burial at Pinecrest Memorial Park. Visitation is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, November 29, also in the Griffin Leggett Healey & Roth Chapel. A memorial service will be held at The Woodlands United Methodist Church at 2200 Lake Woodlands Drive, The Woodlands, Texas, at 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 7. The family expresses appreciation to the staff at M.D. Anderson and St. Luke's Hospital, and care-givers Brandi Graf and her daughter Sarah Buck. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Woodlands United Methodist Church.