William "Bill" Maxwell Salisbury

William (Bill) M. Salisbury, one of God’s faithful servants entered the gates of heaven on July 31, 2011. Bill lived a long and interesting life and accomplished many things. Bill was born on September 9, 1919 the 8th of 12 children born to Anna and Herbert Salisbury. He had 7 sisters and 4 brothers and is survived by 2 sisters, Estelle Chase and Carol Johnson (Ralph). Bill is also survived by his wife of 19 years Betty Hopkins Salisbury, and by 3 sons, Wayne Salisbury (Suzanne), Kent Salisbury (Lori), and Charles Salisbury (Ellie) and 1 daughter Karen Davis (Don). Bill also has 11 grandchildren: James Salisbury, Tiffanie Oenning (Greg), Matthew Davis (Rhyann), Steven Salisbury, Kathryn Salisbury (James), Amanda Hutyler, Carlin Salisbury, Megan Salisbury, Jenelle Salisbury, Edgar Salisbury and Anne Salisbury; 5 great-grandchildren: Amber Salisbury, Katlyn Salisbury, Madelyn Hutyler, Reis Oenning, and William Hutyler; and 1 great-great-grandchild, Josiah Salisbury, and many step-children and step-grandchildren. Bill grew up in southern Idaho and moved to Lewiston, Idaho in 1936. He graduated from Lewiston High School in 1938 and then attended Lewis-Clark State College. In 1942, while at LCSC, he was in ROTC and he began a pilot training course, flying the Piper J-3 Cub. After a crash landing in a wheat field, he decided to become a bombardier instead and entered the Army Air Corps in 1943. He was a member of the 10th Air Force, 493rd Bomb Squadron, and he flew many missions as a bombadier over China, Burma and India as part of a B-24 flight crew. In 1945, he was honorably discharged at the rank of First Lieutenant. When Bill returned to the States, he attended WSC in Pullman and graduated in 1947. While in Pullman, he met and married Gloria Ambacher in 1945. They moved to Spokane in 1947 where Bill had secured a job as an advertising salesman for the Spokesman-Review. Bill and Gloria bought a home in north Spokane where they raised 3 children. Gloria passed away in 1965. Bill then married Marie Davis in 1966 and they had 1 son. Bill later married Eupha Ingram (deceased) and is survived by his wife, Betty. He had several jobs over the years, including advertising salesman for the Spokesman Review, driver for SASTA, attendant at Eastern State Hospital, security guard for Expo ’74 at the Russian complex, and bus driver for Empire Lines. He also tried his hand in the real estate market. Bill enjoyed buying and selling antiques and at one time owned an antique shop on Monroe Street. His fondest memories were of his road trips in his Chinook camper as he loved to travel and felt the most relaxed when he was behind the wheel discovering new places. Bill was a very kind and generous man and was always quick with a joke. He was a friend to everyone he met, and will be missed by all who knew him. Bill was a good husband and father and he left his imprint on all of us in many ways. Dad, Bill, Papa, we all miss you and now there is an empty space in our lives. Our hearts are aching, but we take comfort knowing that Heaven has one of the good ones and that we will see you again someday. Special thanks for the compassionate and loving care that Dad received from his wife over the years and from his son and daughter-in-law at their home in the last months of his life. Visitation will be held at Riplinger Funeral Home and Crematory 4305 N. Division Spokane, WA on Tuesday, August 2nd and Wednesday, August 3rd from 9:00AM - 8:00PM. A celebration of his life will be held at St. Anthony Catholic Church 2320 N. Cedar St. in Spokane on Thursday, August 4th at 2:00 PM.