Russell W. Cutler

Russell W. Cutler, 94, known as Bill by his friends and family, of Bolivar passed away Thursday, April 8, 2021. He was one of seven children including five sisters and a brother. He was born in Linden, Mich. on Jan. 17, 1927 to Rose Anne Farner Cutler and Donald Russell Cutler. As a child, he was run over by a car which severely damaged his left leg and spent over a year in the hospital many miles from his home, sometimes not being able to be visited for weeks at a time by his family. Cutler graduated from Fenton High School in 1945 and ventured to the California redwood forests working in an area lumber camp and sawmill.
In 1950, he joined the U.S. Air Force after having to sign a liability waiver because of his childhood accident and served four years, being honorably discharged in 1954.
During his time in the service, Cutler met Mary Frances Dunn and was lovestruck. However, he had not been raised in a Christian home and did not know Jesus. Mary’s parents prohibited her from dating him except at church. He started attending church and soon became a Christian, his life was changed forever. Bill and Mary married on May 29, 1953 and spent 30 years in full time Christian Ministry, with Child Evangelism Fellowship, The Detroit Rescue Mission, and pastoring churches.
In March of 1954, their first son, Donald Russell was born and soon after his discharge from the Air Force, Bill, Mary and Donald moved to Fenton, Mich. where he started and ran their business, Bill’s Heating Service. While residing in Fenton, they had daughter, Bonnie Beth and another son, David William. Later in 1971, they had another son, Daniel James.
Cutler is preceded in death by his parents; three sisters; a brother; grandson, Jonathon Presley; and a granddaughter Sarah Patton.
He is survived by his wife Mary; two sisters; daughter, Bonnie Sine and husband Kirk; sons, Donald and wife Teresa, David and wife Martha, Daniel; nine grandchildren; and 27 great- grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Samaritan’s Purse and may be left at the funeral home.
Visitation was from 2-4 p.m., Sunday, April 11, 2021 at Wilson-Griffin Funeral Home, Walnut Grove. Funeral services were at 2 p.m., Monday, April 12, 2021 at Eudora Baptist Church, with burial following in Eudora Cemetery, Eudora.