Captain Earl “Bill” William Cauldwell, III

     Captain Earl “Bill” William Cauldwell, III, aged 79 of Washington Island, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, June 4, 2024.

     He was born on January 12, 1945, to the late Dr. Earl and Caroline (Butler) Cauldwell, Jr., in Oskaloosa, IA. Bill attended high school at St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy in Delafield, WI, then transferred and graduated from The Judson School in Paradise Valley, AZ in 1963. After high school, Bill furthered his education at Whittier College in Whittier, CA before completing his Bachelor of Science degree in pre medicine at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA.

     In May of 1969, Bill was commissioned as an officer in the United States Air Force and was based at Beale Air Force Base in Yuba City, CA. He flew the Boeing KC-135Q Stratotanker, a military derivative of the civilian Boeing 707, that was designed as an aerial refueler. The “Q” model was specially outfitted to refuel the elusive SR-71 “Blackbird” reconnaissance airplane, which took Bill on many highly classified missions during the Vietnam War. Bill had the distinct honor of serving simultaneously with his older brother, Malcolm, who was also an Air Force KC-135 pilot, based at MacDill Air Force Base in Orlando, FL. Both Bill and “Mal” would occasionally cross paths during training exercises in Alaska. In May of 1974, Bill completed his service as Captain.

     Bill continued to pursue his passion for aviation, which took him, and his young family, to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia as a Saudia (Saudi Arabian Airlines) Boeing 707 First Officer, soon followed by a promotion to Captain.

     In 1977, Mal, who was flying with Delta Air Lines at the time and based in Miami, FL, mentioned that there was an upstart low-cost airline called Air Florida, also based in Miami, which was looking for experienced pilots. Bill applied and became the 25th pilot hired. He began as a First Officer on the McDonnell Douglas DC-9-15RC, quickly working his way to Captain. Air Florida soon became the “darling of deregulation,” which resulted in rapid route expansion beyond Florida, to include the Caribbean, Latin America, and Europe. Bill soon qualified as Captain on the McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30CF “wide-body” and, at the age of thirty-eight, became Chief Pilot for Air Florida’s entire fleet of DC-9s and DC-10s. When Air Florida began to downsize, Bill transferred as Captain to the smaller Boeing 737-200. To this day, 40 years after Air Florida filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, former Air Florida employees have fondly posted on their group Facebook page, their many memories and experiences of working with Bill and recall his unwavering professionalism, kindness, and exceptional piloting skills.

     After Air Florida ceased operations in 1984, Bill returned to Saudia, but this time as an Airbus A300-600 Captain, again based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. In 1987, Bill was hired by Presidential Flight for the government of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), first as Captain of an exquisitely outfitted Airbus A300-600R, and soon thereafter as Captain of an even more elaborate Boeing 747SP. Bill eventually became Chief Pilot of the entire Boeing fleet. His mission was to safely transport the late President of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, his family and important dignitaries.

     Sheikh Zayed’s wife, Sheika Fatima, who had an apprehension towards flying, would often ask a flight attendant who the captain was. She was always relieved to hear that the “American” was in command, as Bill was well known for his gentle maneuvers and smooth landings.

     During his time in Abu Dhabi, he met his second wife, Nelvie Amurao, and the couple were married on April 24, 1996, in Manila, Philippines. Bill eventually retired from Presidential Flight on June 16, 1999, and he, Nelvie and daughter Caroline became year-round residents of Washington Island, in Door County.

     The Cauldwell family has vacationed on Washington Island since 1961, and Bill felt nostalgia’s draw to the Island’s cool and calming tranquility. He knew he had finally returned home after years spent flying all throughout Africa, the Middle East, Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia.

     During his life, he enjoyed big game hunting, culminating in a South African safari, collecting, and reading an eclectic array of books, listening to classical music, studying world history, philosophy, and an amateur’s fascination with classic Ferraris, Porsches, and Mustangs. Most of all, he loved his family and spending time with them. He will always be known for his exceptional piloting skills, calm and gentle professionalism, well rounded personality, strong work ethic, sense of endearment, and generous and humble demeanor.        

     Bill is survived by his wife, Nelvie; children, Erick, Lisa, and Caroline Cauldwell; stepdaughter Guada Marie Flores; grandchildren, Shayla, Caden, and Jace Cauldwell, Faith and Ross Handley, and Karim; brothers, Malcolm (Jeanne) and Dr. Alan (Sarah) Cauldwell; nephews Scott (Kelye) and Austin Cauldwell; and niece Courtney Cauldwell.

     A private family service is being held at a later date. The Cauldwell family is being assisted by Casperson Funeral Home of Sister Bay. Those wishing to express sympathy, share memories, or offer photos of Bill may do so on his tribute page at www.caspersonfuneralhome.com.

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