1901
Martin
2006
Martin L Finkler
November 26, 1901 — June 20, 2006
Martin L. Finkler, 104, passed away Tuesday, June 20,2006.
Martin was born on November 26,1901 in Wichita Falls, Texas to Martin Finkler and Margarette Staber.
He was the youngest of six children. He met his loving wife Evelyn in 1918 as she was walking to catch a trolley and he offered her a ride.
They were married December 22,1925 and both shared November 26th as their birthday.
Martin started his 36 year career at the age of 21 driving a delivery wagon.During the Depression era, he landed a job at Conoco Oil Co. in 1929 by walking in and telling them he would take any position available. He was hired on the spot and worked there until taking early retirement in 1958, due to ill health. He stated he expected to die young, but his health continued to improve and he broke the actuaryial tales at Conoco by continuing to draw a pension for the next 48 years. In addition to working full time at Conoco, he and Evelyn physically built their own home on Lake Worth and in 1943 opened what was a Saturday night hot spot on Fort Worth's south side, the Tasty Tavern, where a fine steak dinner cost 35 cents.
With the freedom of retirement, he and Evelyn began to travel the world by air,land and sea. They saw it all and liked it so much they did it twice. Martin loved to visit the relatives in Germany and did so five times, touring Europe in his Volkswagen camper, zig-zaggin across borders with little more than a Texas driver's license.
In March of 1970, they settled in Las Vegas and had a ball gambling and eating at the great casino buffets. After Evelyn passed away in 1987, Martin took up residence at Montara Meadows where he celebrated his 100th birthday with a lavish party, greetings from the president and Willard Scott of the Today Show on NBC.
In 2003 his family persuaded him to move back to Fort Worth, Texas where he lived at Broadway Plaza and then became a popular resident of Arlington Plaza. For his 104th birthday party, he was greeted by numerous friends, family and TV cameras, from CBC and ABC, offering toasts for his long life.
He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Las Vegas and had just become an honorary lifetime member of the Cherokee Saddle Club. His love, sincerity and kindness were inspirations to all who knew him and he will be missed by all of his family and dear friends at Arlington Plaza.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn Finkler; daughter, Letha, Rankins; grandson, Michael Parker; and son-in-law Bob Rankin. He is survived by his grandchildren, Cindy McReynolds, Robin Payne and Susan Bradley; five great-grandchildren; four great-great grandchildren; two great-great-great-grandchildren; nephew, Billy Mahler of Wichita Falls; numerous great-nieces and great-newphews; and sisters- in-law, Margaret Lindley and Catherine Thomas of El Paso, Texas.
A visitation will be on
Thursday, June 29,2006
Greenwood Funeral Home
Fort Worth, t4xas
Funeral services will be
Friday, June 30,2006
Greenwood Garden Chapel
Rev. Steve Jested will officiate.
Burial will be held at Eden Vale Memorial Park
Arrangements were handled by Bunkers Mortuary
Las Vegas, Nevada
Martin was born on November 26,1901 in Wichita Falls, Texas to Martin Finkler and Margarette Staber.
He was the youngest of six children. He met his loving wife Evelyn in 1918 as she was walking to catch a trolley and he offered her a ride.
They were married December 22,1925 and both shared November 26th as their birthday.
Martin started his 36 year career at the age of 21 driving a delivery wagon.During the Depression era, he landed a job at Conoco Oil Co. in 1929 by walking in and telling them he would take any position available. He was hired on the spot and worked there until taking early retirement in 1958, due to ill health. He stated he expected to die young, but his health continued to improve and he broke the actuaryial tales at Conoco by continuing to draw a pension for the next 48 years. In addition to working full time at Conoco, he and Evelyn physically built their own home on Lake Worth and in 1943 opened what was a Saturday night hot spot on Fort Worth's south side, the Tasty Tavern, where a fine steak dinner cost 35 cents.
With the freedom of retirement, he and Evelyn began to travel the world by air,land and sea. They saw it all and liked it so much they did it twice. Martin loved to visit the relatives in Germany and did so five times, touring Europe in his Volkswagen camper, zig-zaggin across borders with little more than a Texas driver's license.
In March of 1970, they settled in Las Vegas and had a ball gambling and eating at the great casino buffets. After Evelyn passed away in 1987, Martin took up residence at Montara Meadows where he celebrated his 100th birthday with a lavish party, greetings from the president and Willard Scott of the Today Show on NBC.
In 2003 his family persuaded him to move back to Fort Worth, Texas where he lived at Broadway Plaza and then became a popular resident of Arlington Plaza. For his 104th birthday party, he was greeted by numerous friends, family and TV cameras, from CBC and ABC, offering toasts for his long life.
He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Las Vegas and had just become an honorary lifetime member of the Cherokee Saddle Club. His love, sincerity and kindness were inspirations to all who knew him and he will be missed by all of his family and dear friends at Arlington Plaza.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn Finkler; daughter, Letha, Rankins; grandson, Michael Parker; and son-in-law Bob Rankin. He is survived by his grandchildren, Cindy McReynolds, Robin Payne and Susan Bradley; five great-grandchildren; four great-great grandchildren; two great-great-great-grandchildren; nephew, Billy Mahler of Wichita Falls; numerous great-nieces and great-newphews; and sisters- in-law, Margaret Lindley and Catherine Thomas of El Paso, Texas.
A visitation will be on
Thursday, June 29,2006
Greenwood Funeral Home
Fort Worth, t4xas
Funeral services will be
Friday, June 30,2006
Greenwood Garden Chapel
Rev. Steve Jested will officiate.
Burial will be held at Eden Vale Memorial Park
Arrangements were handled by Bunkers Mortuary
Las Vegas, Nevada
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Martin L Finkler, please visit our flower store.