William Ralph (Billy) Cutler

William Ralph (Billy) Cutler (91), of Delhi, Louisiana passed away Friday, May 22, 2015, at the Glenwood Regional Medical Center after a brief illness. “Mr. Billy,” as he was known by many, was born in Delhi, Louisiana July 11, 1923. He was a graduate of Delhi High School, and attended Northeast Junior College, where he majored in Aviation. Upon completion, he attended flight school at Selman Field in Monroe, Louisiana. As a Flight Officer and Flight Instructor, Mr. Billy instructed aviation cadets at the beginning of World War II in Helena, Arkansas, then joined the Ferry Command in the Army of the United States, where he operated as first pilot of twin-engine aircraft and pilot of single engine airplanes in ferrying operations from Great Falls, Montana to Fairbanks, Alaska. He flew P-40, P-39, P-47, P-51, P-63, A-24, and A-25 aircrafts during his time in the military. Mr. Billy was an owner of Cutler Chevrolet in Delhi, and was retired from the Richland Parish School System after driving a school bus for over 30 years. Mr. Billy enjoyed boating and water skiing, spending many happy days with his family and friends on the Ouachita River, Lake Bruin, and Lake Providence. He also enjoyed traveling, loved LSU Football, and was an avid golfer, as his father and uncle were instrumental in building the Delhi Golf and Country Club. Among Mr. Billy’s greatest pleasures throughout his years, was teaching family and friends to water ski, as well as instructing them in golf. He was a lifelong member of Delhi United Methodist Church. He is preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Ruby Cutler, two sisters, Jackie Cutler and Elizabeth Cutler Vincent, and a beloved son, Ralph Wesley Cutler. He is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 72 years, Jane Golson Cutler of Delhi; sister-in-law, June Golson Eby of Monroe; son and daughter-in-law, John Golson Cutler and Judy Harvey Cutler of Monroe; the light of his life and only grandchild, Ashley Layne Cutler of Baton Rouge; nieces, Lynda Eby McGehee of Monroe, Leah Eby Stewart of Monroe, and Anne Vincent Pardue of Dallas; and nephews, Chris Eby of Monroe and Lee Vincent of Monroe, as well as a host of great nieces and nephews.Funeral services celebrating the life of Mr. Cutler will be held at 4:00 P.M., Tuesday, May 26, 2015, at the Delhi United Methodist Church in Delhi, Louisiana, with the Reverend Ted Fine and the Reverend Paul Lipe officiating. Interment will be held in the Delhi Masonic Cemetery, under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home in Monroe, Louisiana. Visitation will be held prior to the service at 3:00 P.M. at the Delhi United Methodist Church. Pallbearers will be Bruce Bagwell, Mike Colvin, David Craig, Fred Eubanks, Mike McInnis, and Lee Vincent. Honorary Pallbearers will be Jimmy Hopson, Pat Lane, Jr., Frank Earl Maxwell, Jr., and Senator Francis Thompson. The Cutler Family would like to extend a special thanks to Larry “Lumpy” Lumpkin, longstanding pilot of the Commemorative Air Force’s P-51 Mustang, Gunfighter, for giving Billy his final ride, flying him over his one-time home base airfield of Helena, Arkansas, as a crowd gathered below on the tarmac in a “thumb’s up” salute. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Chennault Aviation & Military Museum or the Delhi United Methodist Church.Online Registry/Condolences: www.mulhearnfuneralhome.comArrangements under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home, Monroe, LA.