William M. "Bill" Martin

1949 - 2025

William M. "Bill" Martin
09/07/1949 - 11/11/2025
William Michael "Bill" Martin, 76, passed away on November 11, 2025, following a relatively short but serious illness. He was born on September 7, 1949, in Buffalo, New York, to William Francis Martin and Betty (King) Martin. Bill grew up with three brothers and one sister, and the family lived in Orchard Park, New York before moving to Houston, Texas when Bill was in elementary school.
Bill graduated from Memorial High School in 1968. He went on to earn a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Texas Tech University in 1972. That same year, he married his college sweetheart, Carol Jamail, at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Houston. He began his professional career the day after their wedding. Together, Bill and Carol raised two daughters, Audra and Helen, living in Houston, TX, Mission Viejo, CA, Fort Wayne, IN and Sugar Land, TX. They were married for 42 years until Carol's passing in 2014.
Most of Bill's career was in the office products industry, including supplies, equipment, furniture, and services. His sales, management, and leadership roles took him across many states and several countries. He began at Buffalo Business Products in Houston and later worked with Boise Cascade Office Products, Acco, Martin Yale, and Jones & Cook. His final employer was SavOn, a retail office products company that he streamlined and ultimately purchased, renaming it Buffalo Business Products in honor of the company where he began his career. Bill's daughter, Helen, later joined the business and ran it alongside him. Throughout his career, Bill forged long-term friendships with colleagues, leaders, and partners. He sold the company in 2016 and retired after a year of consulting.
In 2016, Bill fell in love with Barbara Britt, who considered Bill the love of her life. They married in 2018 at St. Angela Merici Catholic Church in Missouri City, TX, where Bill's nine-year-old grandson, Luca, proudly served as Best Man. Bill and Barbara spent ten joyful years traveling, enjoying their well-blended families, spoiling grandchildren, attempting to learn Italian, and sharing endless laughter. Bill grew close to Barbara's brothers and sisters-in-law (the Tuggle family) and especially to her son, James Britt. Their families cherished time together during holidays, special occasions, trips, and countless memories made around the table and cooking together.
Among all his blessings, Bill's favorite people in the world were his grandchildren, Luca and Claudia D'Aroma of Pescara, Italy. He and Barbara visited them several times a year and hosted them in Texas and Colorado. Bill passed down his love of fishing to Luca and his sense of humor to Claudia, while they shared with him their passions for soccer and gymnastics.
Bill was an avid outdoorsman who loved bird hunting - especially duck hunting - and made regular hunting trips to East Texas. As a child, he even occasionally skipped school to go hunting. He also enjoyed saltwater fishing and playing golf, hobbies he embraced more fully in recent years. He often took fishing trips with his grandson Luca, his stepson James, and his sons-in-law, Fabio D'Aroma and John Hine.
Bill had a deep and unwavering Catholic faith. He regularly attended Mass both at home and while traveling for work or pleasure. He enjoyed visiting new churches, meeting local priests, and experiencing Mass in different languages - even when he did not speak them. During his trips to Italy, he visited many churches, sometimes several in a single day, lighting candles for friends and family who were ill or had passed away.
Those who knew Bill remember him as someone who genuinely cared about people. He was always ready to offer advice, and he maintained friendships over the years, supported friends and their spouses in later life, and visited those who were sick or homebound. His kindness and loyalty left a lasting impact on many.
Bill is preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Carol; his sister, Donna Martin Buck; his brother, Brian Martin; his childhood and life-long best friend, Mark Bocella; and his brothers-in-law, Father Jimmy Jamail and Edward Jamail.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara Britt; his daughters, Audra Martin D'Aroma (and husband Fabio D'Aroma) and Helen Martin Hine (and husband John Hine); his grandchildren, Luca D'Aroma and Claudia D'Aroma; his stepson, James Britt; his brothers, Dennis Martin and Gregory Martin; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws and good friends.
Bill's family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the extraordinary doctors, nurses, and staff at Houston Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center, as well as to Bill's caregiver in recent months, Ikenna "Ike" Obi.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at St. Angela Merici Catholic Church, 9009 Sienna Ranch Rd., Missouri City, Texas 77459. A reception will follow at a location to be announced during the service. A private interment for the family will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bill's name to the charity of your choice. Please visit Mr. Martin's on-line memorial tribute at BeresfordFunerals.com where memories and words of comfort and condolences may be shared with his family.