William V. Marvin

William V. “Bill” Marvin, of 2036 Cayuga St., Ext., Trumansburg, unexpectedly took his last breath at home before being pronounced at Cayuga Medical Center on Monday, December 31, 2012 at the age of 80.

Born on April 7, 1932 in Detroit, Michigan, Bill was the son of William S. and the late Edna (Zemke) Marvin.

Bill spent his early years in Detroit, Chicago, and with his maternal grandparents in Alpena, MI. He moved with his family to this area (Ithaca, Geneva, Enfield) in his mid teens. They eventually bought acreage on Connecticut Hill in Enfield and called it Windy Hill Farm. Some of his fondest memories are from this time in his life. He made many lifelong friends while there and had finally come to the area he would fall in love with and call home for the rest of his life.

Bill served in Korea in the76th Engineer Bn (Army 1955 - 1957) after the treaty had been signed and was also in the reserves (1957-1963) once he left the service. He served as a US Postal Carrier in Ithaca for over 28 years (1966-1993).

He married first in 1961 and had three children, Chip, Becky and Deanna.

He married the "love of his life" Nancy in 1982. The two of them adventured far and wide during the earlier years of their marriage. When Nancy was stricken with Alzheimer’s disease Bill cared for her for years all on his own. He gave her all the love and caring he had inside him until the day she left this world.

Bill was known as Jingle Bells to many, he was a ball of energy and was always busy. He always had several projects going at home and a list in his head of to dos' as well as those he was thinking about how to do. He could still work most any 40 year old into the ground and could do just about anything he set his mind to. Just this past summer, at age 80, he dug up the whole foundation at the rear of the house, treated it and back filled it with gravel. Bill was forever young at heart and the bounce was still in his step, no one could believe he was 80. He tried to bring out the inner child in people and was bound to yodel, whistle, or yee haw when either nervous or, well, just plain anytime he felt like it. He sincerely tried to find the joy in everyday life. He wore sleigh bells around his neck when on outings from just after Thanksgiving through Christmas, thus earning the name "Jingle Bells". He would never have fit in at a senior living community or home as he would've been bored to death and run the other residents to ground. He moved from Newfield to the community of Trumansburg in 1982. He loved his home and thought it was about the nicest place a person could live.

Bill had a lifelong weakness for those in need and legally adopted a Korean boy while stationed in Korea. He was single and in the service, but he helped David Lee come to the USA so he could get an education. David is now in charge of the Korean Branch of the Global Missionary Fellowship. Always reaching out to those in need, Bill contributed to either Boystown or The Mercy Home for Boys and Girls for over 40 years. He also supported many other charities sporadically throughout the years. He taught many a Sunday School group in a way that really got the children/teens interested. He really connected with children, boosting them up and encouraging them to better themselves and to expand their minds.

Bill regularly attended church. He was born, baptized and raised Catholic but in the mid 1970's chose to start attending the Methodist Church. His belief in the Lord was strong and unwavering.

Bill was preceded in death by his "two angels" - wife, Nancy and son, William V. “Chip” Marvin. Waiting on the other side were his brother, Daniel and his mother and beloved step-father Edna and Jack Ewald. He is survived by two daughters, Rebecca Sinn of Trumansburg and Deanna (David) Culver of Vero Beach, FL; grandchildren, Nikolas Sinn of Romulus and Corey Sinn of Ovid; one adopted daughter, Cindy Berry of Trumansburg; and grandchildren Christina Berry and Sean Creighton; one adopted son, David Lee of Seoul, Korea;, sister, Barbara Steimer of Howell, MI; a sister-in-law;, many nieces, their families and children, including Johanna (Jerry) Matthews of Pelkie, MI; and special friends, Elam and Mary Stoltzfus and their children Arie, Rachel, Elam Jr. and Stephen of Interlaken.

The family will be present to receive friends from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm on Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at the Ness-Sibley Funeral Home, 23 South St., Trumansburg. Services will begin at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, at the funeral home, with the Rev. Dr. Jeff Losey officiating. There will be time during the service for people to share stories or fond memories of Bill.

Those who wish to make a contribution in Bill’s memory are asked to kindly consider the Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, 1140 West Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60607-2906 or the Trumansburg United Methodist Church, PO Box 628, Trumansburg, NY 14886.