Bill E. Martin, 80, of Conrad House, Harborcreek Township, Erie, Pennsylvania, died Thursday, July 15, 2004, at his residence after a brief illness.  Services at Wesleyville Baptist Church. Burial private at Laurel Hill Cemetery.

He was born Oct. 26, 1923, in Martinsville, Ill., son of the late Harry and Laura (Farber) Martin.

Bill completed his senior year at OTHS in Olney, transferring from Martinsville, Illinois.

He worked for General Electric Co., retiring after 25 years. He previously was a teacher at Tech Memorial High School. He graduated from James Millikin University.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was at Iwo Jima when the United States flag was raised.  He was an active member of Wesleyville Baptist Church, serving as a deacon and on the church board. He was a member of the GE Quarter Century Club and volunteered as a teacher at the YMCA. He enjoyed cooking and wrote a cookbook.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, LuElla Martin; and three brothers and sisters.

Survivors include his wife, Gertrude M. Martin; a stepson, Ron Rice and his wife, Evelyn, of Pittsburgh; two stepdaughters, Judy Thompson and her husband, James, of Scotts, Mich., and Shirley Rathmann and her husband, Robert, of Erie; 14 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

Erie Times-News (PA) - Sunday, July 18, 2004