William Henry Martin Jr.

A  Remarkable Man; A Life Well-Lived

William Henry Martin, Jr., age 98, of Cincinnati, Ohio, passed away on August 23, 2026 in Cincinnati. Born on April 23, 1928 in Madisonville, to Grace Ealey Martin and William Henry Martin, Sr., William was affectionately called “June” and “Willie June” by his family of origin and “Martin,” “Bill,” and “Foots” by friends and community. After attending Withrow High School, he worked as a bartender at The Bluebird Inn, a Central Avenue restaurant owned by his paternal grandfather, Boston Martin, Jr. Later, he worked at Shillito’s department store, before serving long-term as a mail handler at the U.S. Postal Service until his retirement in 1987.

William was known for his easy-going nature, humorous outlook and singular devotion to his family. He was an avid reader, whose day wasn’t complete until he’d read every local and national newspaper he purchased daily from his favorite downtown newsstand. He was a passionate pool player, a skillful card player, and a sharp dresser, who was rarely seen not sporting one of his signature brimmed hats.

When William entered into marriage with Lillie Louise Morris Wallace, he happily became “Dear Old Dad” to her five children, the late Charles Wayne Wallace, the late William Albert Wallace, Katherine Louise Wallace Hinton Clarke (the late Charles Lowell Clarke), the late Lamar Alden Wallace, and Rina Annett Wallace. William and Lillie had one daughter together, Misty Letitia Martin Smith, to whom William remained devoted, along with all her siblings, after Lillie’s untimely passing in 1972. Misty, in turn, took loving care of her dad in his final years.

In addition to his parents and his wife, William was preceded in death by his sister, Virginia Martin, and brothers, James “Jr.” Carter, Mark Martin, and Gary Martin; by his dear friend, Orville Calamese; by his favored cousins Nollie Williams, Gladys Williams, Delores “Lois’ Weaver, Robert “Bud” Williams, and Helen Lampkins; by his grandchildren Laird Wallace, Dominica Wallace and Michelle Wallace; and by his great-granddaughter, Raiyah Parker Rhodes Chew Shaw.

William will be lovingly remembered by his nieces, Diane Martin Russell and Sylvia B. Crosby; by his grandchildren, Michael Wayne Wallace, Marvin Lee Hinton, Jr., Patrick Glenn Wallace, Endora Wallace, Tiffany Noelle Hinton, Naima Rasheen Clarke Daniel (David), Patrina Wallace, Christopher Lowell Clarke (Mara), Colin Isaac Thomas, Khaleef Kareem Smith, Khadijah Raoul Adeen Smith, Wadiyah Rasoul Adeen Smith, and Samiyyah Rasheedah Smith. He also leaves a host of adoring great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, cousins and great-nieces.

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