William Austin Tolin, Jr.

William (Bill) Austin Tolin, Jr was born on the 1st of February 1949 in Grants Pass, Oregon to Delilah “Doris” and William Austin Tolin. Born as an only child, he grew up in Selma, Oregon, but traveled frequently to California to find relief from forest fire smoke that aggravated his childhood asthma.

Bill was a lifelong hard worker. As a boy he made pot holders in his home on a hand loom and sold them locally to help earn money for his family. At age 11, he was harvesting trees off their land to sell at Christmas time, and by high-school he had his own firewood business. For ten years he worked in the logging industry. In his 20’s, he moved with his parents to Seattle, Washington where they managed a long term stay hotel. Bill was married to his first wife, Sharon Martinelli, in December of 1973. Leaving behind no children, they were divorced 3 years later in Grants Pass, Oregon, where Bill blossomed his career in the restaurant industry. Starting as a line cook, he moved quickly to head Chef and even managed several local restaurants, providing for his new wife, Carol Ann Gallios, whom he married in March of 1978 and their two children.

He spent many of his younger years enjoying the outdoors, riding his motorcycle, hunting and fishing, until the summer of 1984 when he experienced a work related injury that severely changed his life. After 16 years of being unable to work, Bill’s hardworking nature drove him back into the workforce where he spent 20 years in the sign service industry, selling signs and sign repairs to local businesses. Though he continued to hunt and fish when he could, he soon developed a love for computer games and the simpler things in life.

After several heart attacks, he made the decision to leave Oregon one last time to spend his remaining years closer to his grand kids in Pocatello, Idaho. Even though he suffered with daily pain from his accident for so many years, he never lost his jolly nature. He loved to tell jokes, make people smile, and share stories of the good ol’ days. He died peacefully at home early Monday morning, on August 29th surrounded by his family.

Bill was a wonderful husband and father, no matter what difficulties arise he always made sure his family was taken care of. He is survived by his wife Carol, his daughter, Crystal, his son, William, daughter-in-law, Sandi, and two grandchildren, Abbagail and Tanner.