Services held for former co-owner of Martin’s Restaurant

Bennie Jane Martin, who with her husband operated Martin’s Restaurant on Key Avenue for 40 years, died at her home in Lampasas on Jan. 13, 2021.

Funeral services were held Jan. 17 at First Street Church of Christ. Sneed Funeral Chapel had charge of arrangements.

Bennie was born Nov. 26, 1936 to Janie Dixon Lang and Ben Emil Lang at what then was Rollins Brook Hospital.

Bennie lived for eight years in Kingsland before the Lang family returned to Lampasas in 1945.

She graduated from Lampasas High School in 1954 and attended The University of Texas at Austin for two years. She worked part time at Western Union during college and then full time until her first child was born.

Bennie married Gary Martin on Feb. 14, 1959 in Lampasas. They lived in Waco, Austin, Dallas and San Antonio before returning to Lampasas in 1965 after the death of Gary Martin’s father and restaurant founder, Delbert Martin.

Gary and Bennie worked together at Martin’s Restaurant for 40 years, and their children pitched in at the family-run business. After the Martins retired, the restaurant was sold and now is Giovanni’s Italian Restaurant.

Bennie was preceded in death by one grandson, Samuel Henderson; a sister-in-law, Jan Leaman; and a brother-in-law, Don Leaman.

Survivors include her husband of 61 years, Gary Martin; three daughters, Laurie Henderson (Greg), Janna Hammett (Richard) and Julie Bucek (Mark); five grandchildren, Matthew (Danielle), Macy, Cara Beth (Ryan), Ben (Makayla) and Molly (Taylor); two greatgrandchildren, Dawson and Madeline; one brother, Roland Lang (Wanda); and many nieces, nephews and cousins.