William Martin

Obituary of William Martin

William Walter Martin WEST COLUMBIA: A homecoming service celebrating the life of William "Bill" Walter Martin, 75, will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, August 28, 2011, in the Chapel of Thompson Funeral Home of Lexington. Entombment will follow at Celestial Memorial Gardens Mausoleum. The family will receive friends and family from 5 until 7 p.m. Saturday, August 27, 2011, at the funeral home. Bill passed on Thursday, August 25, 2011, surrounded by his loving family. Born in Memphis, TN, December 9, 1935, he was the son of the late PeeWee and LulaBelle Martin. He will be remembered for his sense of humor, the stories he loved to tell of his miscellaneous collections and his woodworking. His special place was "Pop's" Garage, where he would build his wooden toys, birdhouses, replicas of homes and anything anyone would ask him to build. He had the talent of looking at a picture and then build it to scale. Bill loved his country and was very proud to have served in the military, both Army and the Air Force. He served a tour in Korea. He retired from Safety Kleen and began working as a Bailiff in the Richland County Courthouse. Surviving are his beloved wife of 47 years, Betty Lee; three daughters, Judy Williams (Rick) of West Columbia, Lynn Villella of West Columbia; and Angie Boland (Hal) of Chapin; a son, Jerry Colley (Teri) of West Columbia; seven grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; one great great grandchild; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law; and best friends, Pete and Mary Wolf of Rock Hill; also many nieces and nephews. Mr. Martin was preceded in death by a sister, Frances Martin Grantham. The service will be conducted by Pastor Rick Williams (son-in-law) and the pallbearers are grandsons and nephew: Anthony Villella, Jason Garrett, Shawn Colley, Jacob Williams, Casey Goodson and Michael Wolf. Honorary pallbearers are: Pete Wolf, Billy Villella, friends and co-workers of the Richland County Judicial Center. The family would like to thank Lexington Oncology and Heart Strings Hospice for their care and compassion for our loved one. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, designated for Lung and Bone Cancer Research, 128 Stonemark Lane, Columbia, SC 29210. Family and friends may sign online guest book at www.thompsonsfuneral.com
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