- Date Of Birth: October 2, 1936
- Date Of Death: April 23, 2021
- State: Florida
Wilbur (Bill) Lincoln Michael Martin III died on 23 April 2021 of complications exacerbating his 18th year of Parkinson’s disease. He leaves behind his 40-year partner in adventure, Evelyn. A huge network of family, fans and supporters from Duncan MacArthur in Scotland in the East to Gareth, Fiona and Maddie Walker in Oregon out West, are left with thousands of funny and affectionate stories. Those stories define his life and Bill’s wonderful impact on ours.
Born 2 October 1936, Bill was the namesake of Scottish and Irish immigrants to Chicago. As a result, he was the biggest of Chicago Cub and Notre Dame fans. Bill became the oldest brother and protector of Judy Bell, Lynn Howard and Charles, Mark and Mike Martin following the migration West to Inglewood California. He was the son of an early West Coast realtor-and-every-other-venture-before-its-time pioneer, Bill the 2nd and his wife June Hubbard Martin.
Bill attended Santa Monica City College as a gymnast before joining the Army for Basic Training at Fort Bliss, Texas. He was stationed in the Philadelphia Defense Area as an operator of the Nike-Ajax Surface-to-Air Missile System during the Korean Conflict. Bill fathered six children in eight years that he would later move from Surf City California to Schaumburg Illinois to Lake Fenton Michigan.
In Florida, he began his long battle with Parkinson’s and its later mutation to Lewy Body Dementia. Even as he battled the good fight, his children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, in laws and friends discovered he humbly became one of their most dependable confidants and secret supporters. The Florida and extended family returned the favor by providing care and comfort in his last battles.
Death is too difficult to handle, by family member, spouse, friend, acquaintance, or just curious reader. Wilbur (Bill) Martin III’s death could pass by your skimming eyes of the reader or web surfer.
