George A. “Billy” Painter, 85, of Iuka, Mississippi, died on Monday, March 11, 2024, at his residence. George was a wonderful man that lived a full and interesting life. As a young boy, he worked on a farm bathing and brushing registered show cows. When he was eleven years old, he flew his first plane and after that, he never stopped. He received his pilot’s license upon completing his first solo flight at the age of fifteen and went on to get his A&P mechanic’s license and commercial flight license. He was IFR and ATP rated and flew for many different companies and people throughout the years, including Executive Airlines and Red Aircraft in Ft. Lauderdale where he was a mechanic and met his wife. He also managed and instructed at Black Forrest Gliders, managed Fixed Base Operations in Fredericksburg, MD, and was a co-owner of Classic Air Flight School. In his younger years, George’s parents owned a skating rink, so he became an expert roller skater. An interesting fact about him is that Patsy Cline was very close with his family. She lived with them for a few years and gave them a handwritten note saying, “Thank you for all the courage.” George led a fascinating life and always had stories to tell. He loved aviation, boating, and his family. George is survived by his beloved wife of 62 years, Norma N. Painter; his daughter, Susan E. Rice (Alan); his grandchildren, Trevor P. Rice (Pam) and Stefan A. Rice; his great-grandchildren, Olivia Rice, Bradley Dickens (Kristie), Tabitha Daniel (Chris), and Taylor Thomas Sivaja (Isaiah); his great-great-grandchildren, Piper and Parker Dickens, Cayden “C.J.”, Taliyah, Makiyah, and Cherish Daniel, and Mila Grace and Delilah Sivaja; his mother-in-law, Betty M. Neale; his cousins, Ed (Barb), Dottie (Chris), Jeanne, Cherry (Jim), Tim (Roxanne), and Dennis (Diane); and a host of other family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ellen and George Albin Painter; and his cousins, Wayne “Speedy” Lloyd (Nancy), Jimmy Cuddy (Darlene), and Jim LaRue. Cutshall Funeral Home in Iuka, MS, is entrusted with the arrangements. Memorials may be made in George’s honor to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
