Willie “Bill” E. Martin

W.E. (BILL) MARTIN, a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, a husband, a father, a grandfather (Pappaw), a great-grand father, a brother, an uncle, a cousin and friend to so many and every stranger, the Patriach and Hero of his family, followed Jesus to Heaven on Wednesday, August 24, 2022.

Visitation: 6:00 to 8:00 pm, Tuesday, August 30, 2022 at Biggers Funeral Home, 6100 Azle Ave. Fort Worth, Texas 76135

Celebration of Life: 11:00 am, Wednesday, August 31, 2022 at Trinity Bible Church, 4936 E Interstate 20 Service Rd S, Willow Park, TX 76087

Interment: Poolville Cemetery, 230 Church St, Poolville, Texas 76487 following the service.

He was born on July 26, 1931 on his family’s farm in Poolville, Texas.  The fifth child of eight, he was his mother’s right-hand man in the kitchen and in the laundry.  His mother passed when he was eleven and then he became the helper to his next older sister. In addition, he worked with his father in the fields from the time that he was walking good, caring for the livestock and the garden, and milking the cows.  They raised all the things a country Parker County farmer raised including, vegetables, peanuts, peaches and pecans.

He was the greatest storyteller and had the best sense of humor. He loved to tell us about, when at a very young age, he went weekly with his dad, Joe (Pa) Martin, to the Weatherford Farmer’s Market to sell the produce and take care of other farming business.  His favorite memory of those times was that if Pa talked long enough, after he (Bill) was finished with his work at the market, he could make all three movie theatres in the square that showed the Westerns, on 50 cents each and buy a soda and popcorn at each one.  He definitely inherited his “gift of gab” from his Pa.

Bill served in the US Army from 1952-1953, during the Korean War, where they made him a Master Sergeant, right soon.  He was in the Army, serving under the Air Force, building facilities for them in Korea.  When the cease fire was called for the Korean War, he was sent home, because the Air Force was allowed to return home directly from war and they did not have to serve the full four years of enlistment, as did the Army, during those times.

Bill had many experiences in different fields.  He had his CDL when he was sixteen.  He worked in South Texas on the farm of his aunt and uncle, for around three years, finding his first experience with the beach.  He loved being near and on the beach.  He was an expert marksman, graduated from HVAC school in the Army, skipped a grade in high school, was the very top of his class or group, no matter what.  His life-long profession was a General Contractor/Builder.  He built hundreds of homes in the Mid Cities area, multi-family in Arlington, the Delta Ta Delta house at UT Arlington, thousands of remodeling home improvement additions in Tarrant County and various regions of North Texas.  He probably holds the unofficial record for repeat customers, because his work was so good and his character was so high, they wanted no one else.

He had the blessing of knowing that all of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, that are accountable, know Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord, which was the greatest blessing to his heritage.  For many years, his witness was asking people if they knew what two kinds of people there are in the world.  After much thought and guessing, they would say, no.  He would gently explain, “Those that know Jesus as their Saviour, and those that do not know Jesus as their Saviour, YET. “And, then he would say, if you would like to know more, I’ll be glad talk to you about it. The last time he said that was when his kind Pastor visited him on August 22, when he still had only a little breath and consciousness to speak. We are so very proud of him for so many reasons. We will miss him forever, until we see him again in our Heavenly home.

Preceded in death: Joseph P Martin (father), Willie May Beaman Martin (mother), Stepmother, Allene Martin, Two brothers, Three sisters

He is survived by his wife, Sharon Parmley Bean Martin; Sons: David W. Martin Sr.  and wife, Sherry; Robert (Bob) J. Martin, and wife, Carrie; Marshal Bean; Daughters: Cheryl Martin Tucker, and husband Gary; Cindy K. Martin Hearne, and husband, Brad; Debbie Gilham, and husband, Scott; eleven grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren; his brother, John M. Martin, his sister, Alice Martin Ervin, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and so many friends, we could never count or name them all.  But he dearly loved them, everyone.