William Wayne Martin

William Wayne Martin, residing at The Abbington Senior Home, Saint George, passed away on May 9, 2026, from exposure to Agent Orange, received during his service in Vietnam. And, ultimately, a relapse of his esophageal cancer. He was born on a train in Richmond, Virginia, according to his mother. William, apparently, never stopped moving. His parents were Albert Bernard Martin and Elizabeth Frances Slayton, both of Richmond. His youth was spent there, sharing life with an older brother, Robert Bernard, and a younger sister, Nancy Elizabeth. Both Robert and Nancy preceded him in death. He also had an older brother he never met, Kenneth, who died of pneumonia at 2.5 months, in 1944.

His father was a railroad man, and instilled in William a love of trains. He grew up riding them with his dad, traveling around the United States during summer vacations. As a boy, his father had an extensive model train set up in the basement of their home, towns, stops, stations. Father and son played with together, bonding over their shared hobby. As an adult, William set up a model train around the living room and Christmas tree, never forgetting his boyhood hobby. For awhile the family lived in Southern California, but returned to Richmond. Sadly, William's father died when William was only 19. His youth was like any other. He loved Volkswagen bugs, and learned to take the engines apart and rebuild them. He even worked at a VW dealership in his teens.

William attended the University of San Francisco for two years, 1968 to 1970, majoring in Biology, pre-med. He wanted to become an oral surgeon and these were the first years he started on that career path. Lying about his age, he tended a bar in China Town to make college money. Guess they never asked to see his driver's license. If they had, California required profile photos on their licenses for anyone under 21. While at US, he was in ROTC. He was sent to Vietnam in March,1970. As a lieutenant in Vietnam, he was injured twice, receiving two purple hearts for being combat wounded. One of those shrapnel wounds damaged his face, and he recounted that he was one of the first patients to receive laser surgery on his eye while recovering at Walter Reed Army Hospital. He was also a member of the Military Police and part of the 75th Ranger Unit. He was discharged as a Captain.

Following his release from the Army in 1972, he remained in Virgina. He began other studies in philosophy and humanities at University. Here, he met his first wife, Elizabeth Poston, who was pursuing a degree in law. They married in November, 1972, divorcing in 1978. They later reconnected and were talking of remarriage, when, sadly, Elizabeth passed away from lymphoma, in 1987.

During William's time at University in Virginia, he was recruited to speak to minority populations to recruit State Troopers. He traveled extensively throughout the state. He later became a Federal Marshal, but decided this was not the career path he wanted to pursue. As he had been recruiting new officers for the State Troopers, he became interested in many aspects of a human resources career. As such, he embarked on this path for the remainder of his life. Some of the highlights of his employment were working for the Meridian Hotel chain (a division of Air France), as their human resources manager for hospitality. He was flown to Paris aboard the Concorde for his job interview, a trip he never forgot. While with Air France, he developed his life-long passion for travel. He visited many, many countries during his tenure with them, wearing out a number of passports in theprocess.

After Elizabeth's death, and following his departure from Air France, he moved to Texas, where he joined Marriott Corporation, and later, Trammell Crow, as VP of hospitality services. He brought a depth of understanding to his human resources and always courtesy and kindness in his dealings with employees. He began his love of running there. He ran 5 marathons in Dallas, completing all of them. William moved in California in the early 1990's, where he met his second wife, Tiffany Tsuchiyama. They married in 1994, welcoming daughter Riley, in 1997. They divorced in 2001.William then lived for a brief time in Santa Monica, where he had begun a Human Resources consulting firm. He later relocated to the San Gabriel Valley to be nearer to Riley and begin, what was an almost daily trek, of taking her to school almost every day. Riley was the most adored daughter one could hope to have. He loved that child so much. He went to soccer games, plays, school picnics, events of all kinds. He volunteered all of the hours parents were obligated to perform, even the hours for her mom, when he did not need to do.

William's last career consulting position was for Long Beach Transit, where he interviewed job seekers for all positions within the company, from bus drivers, to mechanics, to office staff. He made recommendations for salaries, insurance packages and workers' compensation issues. He retired from there in 2015.

William met Robin Sauls in 2006. Mutual friends were having a barbecue for Labor Day. Robin almost did not go. There was an immediate connection between them. They traveled together, lived together. Also lived separately and each went their own way after a time. Robin moved to St.George in 2015. But in 2017, they began to talk once again, and in 2020, William made the move to St. George to be with Robin once again. Seven weeks after he came to live with Robin, William was diagnosed with esophageal cancer, Stage III. He approached it like everything else he had done in life, head-on, with a determination to beat it. He did. Until 4 months ago, when it returned. This time more aggressive than ever.

Robin and William were great friends. Best friends. She adored him, and he, her. He told terrible dad jokes. Then looked at Robin, saying, "you have no sense of humor." And that made her laugh. He called her Robbie, which she loved. He made everyone in the room feel special. He was grateful, kind and generous. He was also mischievous, playing practical jokes. His favorite Halloween costume was the blind referee! He had a machine that made scary noises for the same holiday. He even took his mask that he wore for his radiation therapy, and made it spooky. His spirit was glowing, called everyone friend. He loved people. Sometimes not, but mostly yes. He could be sarcastic and very unfiltered at times. He hated the war in Vietnam. His guilt over hurting others never left him. He felt that he could not be forgiven for taking the life of another. He was not wealthy with money, but with his spirit and his time. He loved the TV series Barney Miller, watching it over and over again, repeating dialog. He loved New York. He dressed like a model, ran marathons, had biceps that wouldn't quit. Had women following him on the street because he was that handsome. There were softer sides to him. He was upbeat, courageous and a storyteller par excellence. Animated, made funny faces and almost always refused to smile in photos. Never understood that. He was fiercely proud of his father's army service during World War II, flying the B17. He always went to the St. George Air Show where these wonderful Warbirds were on display. 

One of his proudest days was when the group allowed William to sit in the pilot's seat. I watched him as he put his hands on the controls, imagining his father flying a mission. His face took on a faraway look and I knew that he was talking to his dad. William is now out of his pain, he suffered so much. And, the saving the best for last, he lives with Jesus in heaven. Hallelujah!

Robin wishes to thank everyone at The Abbington who helped William during his stay there. He called all of you "amigo" or "amiga", or "friend". And he was your friend. Always. He teased andcursed and cajoled. He fell and he never wanted to trouble you, even though you gladly helped him to his feet/walker/wheelchair. He relished your conversations, enjoyed goring sacred cows, he did not stand on ceremony nor suffer fools. I would like to extend a huge thanks to all of you for being a part of the fabric of his life. To those of his hospice team, I want to extend a great, large thanks to you. To Stacey and Coco and Carlos and Margaret, and Meliss. You were a Godsend. He looked forward to seeing you, even though the visits would cause him pain. Bruce, from Christ Community Church, who visited him, I cannot thank enough. He talked and visited. William looked forward to the visits. William was gracious in a way I had not seen before. I believe we prayed him into heaven.I want to thank Dee Ann and Colleen who have been so diligent in helping me to clean his apartment. I have never seen so many gadgets. He loved his toys. He even bought a mini drone for the kitties to chase after. And last but not least, his lifetime best friend, John Webber, whose weekly calls buoyed William up so much. Cindy is John’s wife who said “William was a great man” and I agree. Johnny and Cindy visited 2 weeks before his death. It made William so happy.

I am devastated, awash in tears. I miss his evening calls "how was your day?" Next, "how are the kitties?". The silence is deafening. He told me a hundred times one hundred how much he loved the cats, and me. And when Maxie kitty died, he held him. Comforting his little body, clutching him close to his chest. Perhaps he saw his own death coming. I just didn't expect it so soon. I am always reminded of a phrase I heard somewhere, that as long as we say their name, they will not be forgotten. Let's continue to say his name, William Martin, for as many years as we have left. I love you William! Til we meet again...

Second Timothy 6-8: As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race and I have remained faithful. And now, the prize awaits me - the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing. Amen!