William M. Shawver

William “Bill” Martin Shawver, age 91, passed away on June 17, 2025. At his request, no service will be held.

William was born on January 26, 1934, in San Diego, CA to Herman S. and Thyrza Dodge Shawver. He is survived by two children, Robin L. Swenson and Rick Martin Shawver and four grandchildren. He lived a full life, blessed with marriages to two wonderful women. He married Vera Dorothy Seaton in 1955 and shared a full life until her untimely death from cancer in 1999. In 2001, he married the second love of his life, Sharon L. Blankenbaker. Together, he and Sharon shared many good times until her tragic death in 2008. Her family fully welcomed Bill into their world. Once widowed again, he never fully got over being lonely. He outlived all his closest friends.

Bill retired in 1974 from the US Army after twenty years of service as a Lieutenant Colonel. He fought in two wars - Korea and Vietnam. He flew Huey helicopters, commanded troops, trained pilots, and in his last year at Fort Huachuca he served as Inspector General. After the war, he worked for Bell Helicopter in Tehran, until shortly before the Shah fell.

During their military years, Bill and Vera lived in Alabama, Germany, Thailand and Arizona. Bill earned multiple medals; Army Aviator badge, Senior Army Aviator Badge, Army Commendation Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Service Medal w/3 Bronze Stars and Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.

Bill was the opposite of a pack rat. Where some people save everything, he was never sentimental over things or stuff or understood why anyone else would care about things he didn't. Things that held memories were things to get rid of, so he didn't have to look at them (despite family pleading with him.) His legacy remains the people in his life, a slew of great stories, and a cache of medals and memories.

Rest in peace, Bill. You are missed.