Capt. William Jackson Catlett III, died on Dec 27, 2024. He passed away peacefully at home on his farm in Sugar Creek Wisconsin. 

Bill was born July 27, 1939 in Pensacola Florida. He grew up as a Navy Jr, criss-crossing the country, from the east to the west coasts, experiencing the events of the times as the son of a Naval officer. He graduated from Tabor Academy in 1957, and attended the US Naval Academy from 1958-1961. At the Academy, he distinguished himself in athletics as Captain of the Golf Team and also as a member of the Public Relations Committee. He worked as a ‘spotter’ for the Associated Press at Naval Academy athletic events from lacrosse to football.

Following graduation and his commission, he attended flight school and attained his ‘wings’ in 1963. 

In 1964, he married Susan Shellabarger. (Interesting note- Jack Catlett was a USNA class of 1932 grad, Martin Shellabarger was a USNA 1933 grad; both served on the USS Henley in 1937, and remained friends for more than 5 decades.)

In 1964 Bill joined VU-4(Dragon Layers) flying the F-8 Crusader. In 1965 he transitioned to the A-4 and made 2 cruises with VA 66 (Waldos) on the USS America. In 1968 Bill moved to Lemoore CA, where he joined the Replacement Air Group  VA- 122 (Flying Eagles) as an instructor for the A-7A Corsair II .

In 1969, he was selected as the leading attack pilot for the Have Drill Project and attended the first TOPGUN class in 1969. He then joined  VA -25(Fist of the Fleet) and was aboard the USS Ranger during the Vietnam War. 

In 1974, he was selected for the USN Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, MD, and subsequently served in Carrier Suitability and Ordinance. In 1975, he became the Executive Officer and then Skipper of VA-87 (Golden Warriors) in Jacksonville Florida. He made 2 more cruises aboard USS America.

In 1980 he served aboard the USS Forrestal as Operations Officer.

In 1981, he attended the US War College in Newport RI.

In 1982 he returned to the Test Pilot School, in Pax River MD, attached to Carrier Suitability.From 1983 to 1985 he was stationed at the Pentagon In OP-05, where he sponsored the Goshawk Trainer T-45. From 1986-1988 he served at NAS Corpus Christi, TX, formulating the simulator logistics for the Goshawk. 

He retired from the US Navy in 1988. During his career he accumulated 5000 flight hours and over 1000 carrier landings.

For the next 3 decades, the Catlett’s lived in Chester, NJ where Bill nurtured his passions for building and remodeling houses, building furniture, rock walls, landscaping gardens and outdoor living spaces. He continued to perfect his golf swing. He lovingly supported  the creative projects of his family and of countless young (and old) artists, writers, dancers, musicians and actors at their beloved Camp Catlett. 

In 2015, with daughter Rachel and son in law Ed, he bought a 40 acre farm in southern Wisconsin. Here he designed and built a new house to join the original farmhouse and barns. Now they have a herd of 40 Shetland sheep, free range chickens and ducks, horses, goats, dogs and barn cats. 

Bill died in this home of heart failure. surrounded by family.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Susan (Shellabarger)Catlett, daughters and their families, Rachel Catlett(Ed Hicks), Emily Catlett (Carissa Adams), and Mallory Catlett( Bill Kennedy), and grandchildren Eloise Plesser, Angus McPherson, Henry Plesser, Liam McPherson, Ava Adams, Edward Hicks(Jenna), and Elisabeth Hicks(Ryan Costa)  and great grands, Harper, Leah, and Clara Hicks, and Eleanor and Dylan Costa. He was preceded in death by his father, RAdm. William Jackson Catlett Jr, his mother  Helen (Van) Catlett, sister Antoinette (Catlett) Peters, and his brother Christopher Catlett. Memorial service will be held at Christ Episcopal Church Delavan, on January 18,2025 at 1:00 pm.; reception to follow at the family farm.