Bill Tottenham died Monday, May 30 at Skagit Valley Hospital, just one week shy of his 84th birthday, with his wife Marty by his side. He was a great father and an adoring grandfather. Bill spent the last afternoon of his life enjoying the company of much of his extended family.

Bill was born on June 7, 1938, in Shelton, Connecticut to William and Anne Tottenham. He began his adult life as a carpenter, building houses in Connecticut. In 1965, when he was 26, for a change in scenery Bill traversed the country making his way to the Southern California coast where his sister Joyce had moved. He quickly made friends and settled in the Sunset Beach area. This is where Bill learned to love coastal living. He continued his carpentry career until 1966 when the economy shifted and there was not enough demand for his trade. Bill landed a job with Texaco as a transport operator delivering fuel throughout the region and spent his time off with friends at the beach.

Bill met Martha "Marty" Purvis in 1970 through mutual friends, and they were married after a 9-month courtship. In 1971, Bill and Marty moved north to Anacortes when Bill transferred with Texaco to work from the March's Point refinery. Bill's career with Texaco lasted 29-years until his retirement in 1999.  Bill and Marty had purchased a waterfront lot on Biz Point while still in California but needed a home to live in and start a family. They bought a house in Anacortes near the downtown area, which Bill remodeled. Using his carpentry skills, Bill spent his free time building a new family home on Biz Point that they eventually moved into in 1979. Bill continued to improve the home as a "work in progress" throughout his life.

Following retirement, Bill took up glass blowing as a hobby and found it to be something he genuinely enjoyed. He worked in many glass hot shops throughout the region and even helped build or enhance a few. Bill was well liked in the glass community where he made friends from near and far.
Bill had a very social demeanor and spent much of his time out and about visiting people in the various communities he participated in. He was always willing to lend a hand or offer assistance, even to strangers, no matter the size of the need. He thought mostly of others and because of that, shone through as a beacon of positivity wherever he went. His death will leave a great hole in the lives of his family members and of his innumerable friends, but he left us all with great memories and lots of interactions to reminisce and laugh about.

Bill is survived by his wife of 52 years, Marty, and by his daughter, Katherine Holman (Hugh) and their children, Liam, Harper, and Rainier Holman in Seattle, and his son Brian Tottenham (Jennifer) in Anacortes and their children, Emma McIntyre in Seattle, Pearl Tottenham in Olympia, and Reid Tottenham in Anacortes. He is also survived by his sister, Joyce Humenik, and nephew Jeff. He was preceded by his brothers Tom, Dan, and Joe, and nephew Keith Humenik.

At his request there will be no formal service. Informal celebration to be announced. Memorial contributions can be made in his name to the Anacortes Music Project

To share memories of Bill please sign his online guestbook and bookmark this direct link for return visits: www.evanschapel.com/obituary/william-tottenham-jr