William (Bill) Enoch Martin

After 94 eventful years Bill passed away at home on May 19, 2014.  He was a great husband and father, a kind, generous and funny man who will be missed by all.

A man who took responsibility seriously, he helped raise his three brothers while graduating from Granite High School (class of 1938).  It wasn’t long after that he joined the war effort. 

Survived by his wife of nearly 70 years, Tyleen, sons Michael and Steven (Jill) and his brother Arthur (Bus) Martin.  He is blessed with four grandchildren (Matthew, Trevell, Josh and Sacha), six great grandchildren (Justin, Heather, Niklas, William, Lexi and Tessa), and two great great grandchildren (Mallory and Connor).

Bill was a veteran of WWII and received the Purple Heart after Patches, the B-17 he helped crew, was shot down over France on Black Thursday (14 October 1943).  In time, he and other members of the Patches crew made their way to safety in Switzerland.  He never forgot those who assisted them in France and was fortunate enough to return decades later to thank them in person.  The small farm community who harbored the Patches crew during the war remembered them in a memorial at the local church in Neubecourt, France on 12 May 2001.

After the war Bill and Tyleen made Salt Lake City their home, where he began a 42 year career with the telephone company, initially as a lineman and ending his career in Denver, CO as Vice President of Security. 

Bill retired to Sun Lakes AZ, where he and Tyleen lived for nearly 30 years, returning to Salt Lake in 2013 to be closer to family.

Over the years Bill was involved in: Rotary, The Caterpillar Association of the United States, The Black Thursday 2^nd Schweinfurt Memorial Association, and The Air Force Escape and Evasion Society.

He loved to play golf, was an avid Bronco’s fan, and made beautiful stained glass pieces for family and friends.

No services are planned.  The family suggests contributions to charities of their choice as a form of remembrance.