William Martin, 83, passed away on March 12, 2020. William was born to Gladys and Raymond Martin on Feb. 14, 1937 in Loma Linda, California. He moved with his family to Humboldt County as a young boy. He met his wife Virginia Martin in Eureka and they married on Feb. 22, 1985. They had four children that they raised happily in Humboldt County.

William went into the Army in 1953 at the young age of 16 and ended up serving abroad in the Korean War. After leaving the military he worked as a mechanic for many local shops and he bought himself a fishing boat and became a captain fishing up and down the Oregon and Northern Californian coasts. Years later when he met his wife Virginia they started the family florist business called Virginia’s Flowers on Broadway in Eureka. Working the family business together for the next two decades they raised their children in the beautiful nature of Humboldt that William was so fond of. He spent most of his days with his children, whether it was another trip to the beach for agate hunting or simply to just sit and watch the waves crash and the birds fly by, nature was a huge part of William’s everyday life.

In Williams later years he was very close to his grandchildren spending time with them everyday teaching them about life. If he wasn’t driving around or hanging out watching the waves you might have been able to find him at your local poker room. He quite enjoyed the occasional poker game and he had every reason for he was a very skilled player. He earned himself the nickname “Wild Bill” for his known presence in the poker room. 

Anyone who ever met William couldn’t help but leave with a smile. He was quite the jokester and his humor was extremely contagious. He was a friend to all he met. Someone who would even sacrifice his own life for a stranger. William was an even more amazing father and grandfather. He was a caretaker and hard worker and provided for his family his whole life.

William is survived by his sister Nancy Tucker, and daughter’s, Helen Martin and Gina Golla, his sons, Vincent and William Martin, grandchildren, Heaven, Eden, Luciano, Cora, Lynn, Magi, Bretton, & Roin. He was preceded in death by his parents Gladys and Raymond Martin, his wife, Virginia Martin, his son, Chaim Martin, and his son-in-law Ben Calhoun.

Due to Covid, a service has not been scheduled. The family does hope to do a service in March of 2021 to celebrate William’s life.

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