William "Bill" Kirklin Saint III

Beloved cinephile, puzzle constructor, and Guitar Hero prodigy William “Bill” Kirklin Saint III, 43, of Zionsville, passed away after a long illness on May 27, 2023. He was born in Brunswick, Maine, on July 21, 1979, to William Kirklin Saint Jr. and Lois Paullus Smock.

After attending Zionsville schools where he was elected Drum Major in the Marching Eagles, Bill became an avid collector of higher education certificates earning a Bachelor’s in Communication from Purdue University, a Master’s in Journalism from Indiana University, and a Juris Doctor of Law from the IU McKinney School of Law. While an undergraduate, he was selected to play the esteemed Big Bass Drum in the Purdue University Marching Band. Bill was musically gifted, playing multiple instruments to the point of inciting jealousy in his friends. He worked hard to pass the bar in his birth state of Maine. In recent years, he spent time volunteering with the Kurt Vonnegut Museum & Library and crafting questions for an online trivia company, ensuring nerds everywhere knew who the smartest person really was.

That supreme intelligence was only surpassed by his kindness and willingness to reach out to others he had met even briefly to let them know he was checking in on them, thinking of them, and, of course, to make them laugh. Bill was truly an incredible connector whose ties to those he cared for only grew stronger where most of us would have let them subside. Also, his laugh was a known cure for many ailments.

Bill is survived by his mother, father, sister Mary Thomas, aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, cousins, and a cornucopia of grieving friends across the globe.

A memorial service will be held for both Bill and his mother at Aaron Ruben Nelson Mortuary, 11411 North Michigan Road, on Saturday, July 22nd at 3 PM. Friends are welcome to visit from 1 PM until the time of the service.  The service will be live streamed. To view live please click here .  A reception will follow at Zionsville Presbyterian Church.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Purdue University Marching Band Big Bass Drum Fund in Bill’s name (or his Big Bass Drum nickname, Nugget) via: https://tinyurl.com/BillSaint

Please click on Fund Designation “Other” and type BBD in the box provided in addition to specifying the gift in memory/honor of Bill or Nugget.

You may also make a memorial contribution in his name by phone at 800-319-2199.