William Follis

09/27/1924 – 11/12/2012
WWII Prisoner of War/Long time Bellingham Businessman
Bill Follis, age 88, passed away Monday, November 12, 2012 in Bellingham, WA. He was born September 27, 1924 in Bellingham to William T. and Mildred (Starck) Follis. Bill graduated from Bellingham High School in 1942 and attended WSU before sneaking out of the window of the infirmary to hitchhike to Spokane in order to join the Army Air Corps. During the war Bill was a bombardier and a nose gunner in a B-17. He was shot down over Germany in 1944 and spent the last 8 months of the war in a POW camp in Barth, Germany. He was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries sustained while parachuting from his burning plane. Bill married Helen Genther on March 4, 1944. After the war, he returned to Bellingham to join Wm T. Follis, Realtors, with his father, a business that has run continuously since 1921. He was a broker and real estate appraiser, and was a member of the Appraisal Institute, performing large right of way projects in Washington, Montana, and Alaska. He served in the Appraisal Institute on the Board of Governors and on the National Ethics Committees. He was an active member of many organizations including the American Legion Post #7, Scottish Rite, Masonic Lodge #151, 8th Air Force Historical Society, 493rd Bomb Group Memorial Assoc., Bombardiers Inc., Bellingham Central Lions, Elks Club, American Ex-Prisoners of War Assoc., Appraisal Institute, WA State Association of Realtors and the Whatcom County Board of Realtors (3 term President). Bill loved to golf. He was a current member and past president of the Bellingham Golf & Country Club. He enjoyed watching the Huskies, Mariners and Seahawks, as well as all local high school sports. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Beverly McBeath, and his granddaughter Elizabeth Mitchell Lovell. He is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Helen, five children, William Thomas (Karen) Follis, Melanie O’Suileabhain, Millie (Gary) Tetrick, Christopher (Kelly) Follis and Starck (Pam) Follis, grandchildren Derek, Bill, Joe, Jeff, Jill, Mark, Parker, Nicola and Laura, great-grandchildren Tyler, Maegan, Lauren, Mathias, Neikko, Hazel and Harvey, and many loving relatives and friends. Donations may be made to the 8th Air Force Historical Society or a charity of your choice. A Funeral Service with full military honors will be held at Westford Funeral Home at 11 AM on Monday, November 19.