Thomas William (Bill) Irwin Jr.

Thomas William (Bill) Irwin, Jr., 64, passed away on July 31, 2023, much to his family’s sorrow. He was the third child of Tom and Charlene Irwin born October 4, 1958, in Oklahoma City, and was their only son. He had two sisters, Annette and Jane. Bill’s parents divorced when he was four years old, but he was fortunate to spend time with both his mom and dad. He was an inquisitive child and loved to play outside and that continued throughout his life. Bill’s mother married Walter Shaller. His father married Barbara Hotchkiss Irwin, who filled the role of mother when he was with his dad. His summers were filled with fun around lakes, oceans, and activities on the water. He learned to water-ski and could swim like a fish. He would tan better than any other sibling and traipsed around so everyone could see his bronze skin. Bill moved from Oklahoma City to Dallas when he was eleven years old and then to Abilene, Texas, where he attended Cooper High School. He eventually left Abilene, but he considered it his true home. Bill was never without someone special in his life for very long. He met and married Tamara Murphy in 1980, and they were together for a few years before divorcing. Bill always remembered Tamara with much fondness. He subsequently met Valerie Goodrum and they invested over twelve years together. Val loved his sense of adventure and she treasured that he respected her role as a woman as he did not believe she was limited because she was a woman. Bill’s last long-term relationship was with Lisa Diedrich for over thirteen years. He grew very close with Lisa’s daughter, Nicole, and she became the daughter he never had. When she became a mother, he became a grandpa to her children. He was especially close to Nicole’s first child, Shelby, and spent hours playing with her or swimming in the pool with her. Later, even though he was no longer with her mother, he continued his relationship with her. When Nicole’s family moved to Florida, he kept in touch and visited them often to continue his connection. He proudly talked about the expansion of her family with her husband, Bill Uhach, and the addition of three more children, Corbin, Savannah and Robert. Bill was always willing to try something new and to assist people even if he did not know them. He loved physical challenges, especially parachuting, wind surfing, snow skiing, mastering the martial arts and riding his Harley. He never tired of any of these activities or shrunk from the dangers associated with them. They were a part of him, and he never held back when the opportunity arose to do them. His family worried that they might take him out but that never stopped him from participating at every opportunity that he could. Bill worked for 32 years for Ron Nemeth Pool Services and prided himself in his work (and kept impeccable records). Besides working for Ron, he also considered him a close friend. Bill loved dogs and they played an important part in his life. He brought home a stray Weimaraner when he was a young boy. When the owner learned of Bill’s enthusiasm for the dog, he let Bill keep her, and Ginger became an integral part of his boyhood. His favorite pet was Foxy Roxy, a Pomeranian Spitz mix, who liked to stand between his legs when he was wind surfing. She wanted to be right beside him, and the water was not a deterrent to her devotion to him. Sheba was a well-trained German Shepherd that he reluctantly left in his mother’s care when he was in the process of moving. Bill was preceded in death by his parents and his maternal grandmother, Ima Jordan. Bill is survived by his sisters, Annette Knight (Sam Bader) and Jane Lowther (Eddie) of Oklahoma City; his nephews James Knight, Colorado Springs, and Connery Lowther (Kelsy), Oklahoma City, his nieces, Krystal Wallace (Brad), San Antonio, Tracey Myers (Larry), Edmond, and his favorite, Tosha Lowther, Oklahoma City. He is survived by great nephews Brennen Myers, Oklahoma City, Chandler Wallace, San Antonio and Deacon Lowther, Oklahoma City, and great nieces Jaden of Durango, and Joclynn Knight, Colorado Springs. Bill may be absent physically from this life, but the impressions he made and the indelible marks he etched on his family and friends live on. May those special memories of Bill stay abreast and alive in our hearts for the rest of our days. Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations and we like to think that of Bill. RIDE LIKE THE WIND, LITTLE BROTHER!

Thomas William (Bill) Irwin Jr.

October 4, 1958 - July 31, 2023