William J. Sonenshine

A graveside service will be held at Arlington Memorial Park on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 2:00 PM. 

LIVESTREAM: Please click here to attend the funeral service via livestream.

SHIVA: Shiva will be held at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at the home of Gregg and Julie Porter, 1845 Walbury Drive, Dunwoody GA 30338. 

OBITUARY:

William “Bill” Joseph Sonenshine, age 89, passed away peacefully on November 13, 2025, in Sandy Springs, Georgia. A lifelong learner, gifted storyteller, and beloved patriarch, Bill touched countless lives with his warmth, humor, and genuine interest in every person he met.

Born on July 1, 1936, in Greenwood County, South Carolina, Bill was the son of Rose and Julius Sonenshine. After growing up in the South surrounded by close family—including many beloved cousins—he pursued higher education with characteristic dedication and curiosity. He earned his undergraduate degree from Emory University and later completed a master’s degree at the University of Georgia. Bill spent his professional career serving the State of Georgia Division of Rehabilitation Services, where he worked tirelessly to support and empower individuals in need until his retirement.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Julius and Rose Sonenshine of Ware Shoals, South Carolina, and by his beloved wife of 44 years, Marilyn Sonenshine, to whom he was a devoted husband and caregiver until her untimely passing in 2004.

He is survived by his loving children, Steven Sonenshine (Lisa) of Marietta; Marty Sonenshine (Randi) of Cartersville; and Julie Porter (Gregg) of Dunwoody; and by his four adoring grandsons—Jake and Ethan Sonenshine of Cartersville, Max Porter of Dunwoody, and Harris Sonenshine of Marietta. Bill is also survived by his cherished and devoted companion, Marcia Ivers, whom he adored and with whom he shared many meaningful years.

A man of many talents, Bill excelled in both the literary and performing arts. He worked as a speech coach, was an avid writer, and contributed columns to several local publications. His passions were wide-ranging and joyfully pursued: fishing, reading, playing piano, performing in musicals, and engaging in spirited conversations with friends and strangers alike. Bill never met a stranger—his natural warmth made everyone feel welcome, and his gift for connection brought people together wherever he went.

Bill was deeply involved in his Jewish community, participating in men’s clubs and serving as an active member of his synagogue and local Jewish organizations. Throughout his life, he embraced opportunities to learn and to lead. In his final year, while living at Sunrise Assisted Living, he continued to build community with energy and purpose. He organized and led a well-attended monthly book club and created a beloved live interview series, hosting talk-show-style conversations with fellow residents. Never tired of learning, he pursued new interests at the nearby Dorothy Benson Senior Center, where he studied Transcendental Meditation.

Bill also found daily joy in the natural world outside his forest-facing window. He delighted in watching deer, birds, and an occasional pair of raccoons—but his most faithful visitor was Rocky the squirrel, who stopped by each day for a cameo and brought Bill endless amusement.

Above all, Bill will be remembered for his generosity of spirit, his love of people, and his commitment to bringing others together. He was warm, caring, endlessly curious, and fiercely devoted to his family. His legacy lives on in the communities he built, the stories he told, and the many lives he brightened.

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs, Georgia. The service will be officiated by Rabbi Spike Anderson of Atlanta’s Temple Emanu-El and livestreamed through Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care. A Shiva gathering will take place at 7:00 PM that evening at the home of Julie and Gregg Porter.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in memory of William Sonenshine to Rabbi Spike’s Discretionary Fund at Temple Emanu-El, 1580 Spalding Drive, Atlanta, GA 30350.

May his memory be a blessing.