Prentice Martin

Prentice Lane Martin, 91 of Abilene, Texas passed away at his home on August 12, 2023, after a devastating diagnosis of pancreatic cancer on July 19,2023. He was surrounded by his devoted family who are heartbroken. Visitation will be Wednesday August 23,2023 from 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM at Elmwood Funeral Home at 5750 Hwy 277 South. A funeral service will follow the visitation at 2:00 PM at Elmwood Funeral Home Chapel.

Prentice was born on November 24, 1931, in Temple, Texas at Scott and White Hospital to Harold Kelly and Aureba Martin. He lived with his parents and older brother Kelly Jr. at a hotel on the Waco highway which was managed by his dad who also ran the café and gas station. At age 3 his family moved to Overton, Texas where his dad took a job at an oil refinery and his sister Doris Nell was born. In 1937, his family moved to Coleman, Texas where his dad worked at another oil refinery. In the summer of 1941, his parents moved the family to Abilene where his dad would work and retire as President of McWood Corp. which later became Pride Refinery.

Prentice was a star athlete to say the least. He attended Lincoln Jr High, where in 9th grade he won the fly weight division in golden gloves. He played football, baseball and ran track. He attended Abilene High School where he lettered in football and track and was co-captain of the football team which won district his senior year. Prentice made all district half back and all district center fielder in baseball which also won district his senior year but lost the State Championship 2-1. He lettered in football, baseball, track and boxing.

Prentice was President of his class his senior year and voted "Most Admirable Boy" both his junior and senior years. He joined the National Guard Battery C 131 Field Artillery 36 Division his junior year and served 8 years.

Prentice attended Abilene Christian College on a football scholarship and his team went undefeated and won the refrigerator bowl his freshman year. To this date this team remains the "winningest" team in ACU history. He was also voted into the House of Representation at ACC that same year. Prentice was a member of Frater Sodalis Social Club where he was quarterback and captain of the Intramural pass-touch football team and won the Championship.

Prentice graduated Acc in 1954 with a bachelor's degree in education and would go on to earn his Masters. After brief teaching and coaching jobs in Colorado City and Lubbock, he returned to Abilene and took a head coaching job at Lincoln Jr High. He also began teaching drivers education which he continued for 31 summers. After many years of enjoying the bachelor life he met and married his wife of 57 years Patricia Pickering Rostvold on May 6, 1966, and inherited 3 stepchildren Jim (10), Steve (8), and Shari (4). Their daughter Nancy was born the following spring. The family attended Highland Church of Christ. Midterm of 1967-68 Prentice went to work at Cooper High School where he would retire after a 40-year career. He taught World Geography and coached everything except tennis. He was the head Golf coach from 1985-1995.

After retiring from AISD he continued to work driving a bus for Sears and Royal Estates retirement Centers. He officially retired at age 85 after working 10 years at CM Auctions on Butternut.

Prentice was most certainly a social butterfly and could talk to anyone. Whether he was drinking coffee with his buddies at Whataburger or McDonalds on the hill, going to the gym or grocery shopping at Market Street, he just could not sit still. And he always had a joke to tell.

He was a devoted husband, father, and Papa. He lived life to the fullest and was always the life of the party. He was admired by his friends, family, students and athletes he coached and will be truly missed.

Prentice is preceded in death by his father, Harold Kelly Martin; mother, Aureba Martin; brother, Kelly Martin Jr; and stepson, Jim Rostvold.

He is survived by wife, Patricia; sister, Doris; daughter, Nancy Widdows and Husband Todd; stepson, Steve Rostvold and wife Anisa; stepdaughter, Shari Cooley; granddaughter, Trish McCauly and husband Chris; granddaughter, April Houston and husband Rex; grandson Terry Cooley; 10 precious great grandchildren and many beloved nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Angie and Yolanda with Hendrick Hospice.