William J. "Bill" Irwin

William James (Bill) Irwin, age 87 passed away February 15th 2016 peacefully in his sleep. He was born in Salem Oregon to Robert James Irwin and Dorothy Nicholson Irwin September 3, 1928. He grew up in Portland Oregon attended Grant High School and then Oregon State University. He always loved his home state of Oregon. After graduating high school he entered the US Navy at the end of WWII. The Navy provided him GI benefits that helped him throughout his college education. In September 1949 he married Jeanne May Jenkins and a few months later was recalled into the US Navy serving two more years during the Korean War. The second tour in the Navy really encouraged him to return to college and focus on his education. In 1954 he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Oregon State University. After graduating he was hired by Shell Oil Company and he worked for Shell until 1988 when he retired. He truly enjoyed his time with Shell Oil and worked at many different jobs as a Civil Engineer, facility manager and principal engineer throughout the west and south. Bill was an active member of the Elks and enjoyed the comradery and friends he had there.
Bill had a great interest in the news with much of the interest focused on politics and government funding. He spent much of his retirement years writing many, many letters to congressmen, the president and many others in political positions. He was very focused on government waste and accountability of the government.
Bill is survived by his sister Elinor Jean Spencer, former spouse and mother to his children Jeanne, three children Michael J Irwin (Debbie), Barbara J Swisher (Steve) and Pamela S Lewis, seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He loved his family and truly enjoyed spending time with them. Bill spent his retirement years watching Fox News, visiting family and friends and trekking back to Oregon whenever the urge moved him.
His last few years were spent in the Atlanta Georgia area being close to family and friends that he had there.
He is proceeded in death by his son Richard D Irwin.
Service will be held at Eternal Hills Funeral Home at 1:00pm on Sunday, February 21, 2016. In lieu of flowers please send donations to The Wounded Warrior Project, WoundedWarriorProject.org/Donate. Arrangements under the direction of Eternal Hills Funeral Home, Snellville, GA.