William “Bill” George Marter passed Oct. 5, 2014, of Alzheimer’s, in Bellingham, Wash. He was 76 years old. Bill was born to Rodney Herbert and Jane (Briggs) Marter in Detroit Sept. 5, 1938. He spent most of his early years in California.

Bill graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 1961, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics and physics. After graduation, he became an officer in the Air Force, where he was a pilot and served in Vietnam. He was shot down in 1963, sustaining substantial injuries that ended his flying carrier. For saving his shot up plane and, more importantly, her crew, Bill received the Distinguished Flying Cross. He also received the Purple Heart.

After his flying career, he became a computer programmer and systems analyst for the Air Force. After many years with the Air Force, he and his family moved to the Portland, Ore., area as he took his computer programming skills to the private sector. Before long, he started his own computer software company. Bill, his wife and their children moved to Welches, Ore., in 1977.

In retirement, he split his time between Welches and Coupeville, Wash. Bill enjoyed sailing, skiing, hiking, traveling and reading. Bill is survived by his wife, Suzanne, of 50 years and their two children, Gretchen and Erik, plus four grandchildren, Garen, Emma, Griffin and Bennett. Gretchen (Marter) McAbery still lives in the Welches area with her husband, Pat, and their two children, Emma and Griffin. Erik and his wife, Jennifer, live in Portland with their boys, Garen and Bennett. Bill is also survived by his brother, Theodore Meiggs, of Golden, Colo.

A service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16 at the Nordic Hall in Coupeville, located at 63 Jacobs Road. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Oregon Public Radio, 7140 SW Macadam Ave., Portland, OR 97219.