William Franklin Cuthbert III

William Franklin Cuthbert III, age 82, of New Smyrna Beach, died Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at Reflections Memory Care of Port Orange with family by his side. Born in Nashville, Tennessee to William F. Cuthbert, Jr. and Elsie Lollar Cuthbert. William, with his family, moved to Daytona from Nashville, in 1951.

William is a 1961 Mainland H.S. graduate where he excelled in athletics earning a football scholarship to Tennessee Tech. He later earned his Masters Degree at Stetson, then attended Vanderbilt for a PhD. In his youth he was an Ormond Beach Lifeguard for many years. He remained politically active throughout his life, as a member of the Southeast Democratic Club, and a member of the League of Women Voters of Volusia County. He proudly cheered on his wife as she ran, then won a seat on the VCS School Board representing District III in 2014, then reelected in 2018.
A former teacher and administrator for Volusia County School District, William served his students for 38 years teaching, coaching, then becoming an administrator for facilities and discipline. He began his career at Pierson Taylor H. S. in 1966, transferring to New Smyrna Beach H. S. in 1969, the year of integration, transferring to Atlantic H. S. in 1993, ending his career at Deltona H. S. when he retired in 2004.

William is survived by his wife of 33 years, Linda; 2 daughters, Suzan (Stephen) DeFeo of Edgewater, and Lisa (Ryan) Kelly of Port Orange; a son William F. (Trish) Cuthbert IV, of Ormond Beach; sister Nona Maynard, of Ormond Beach; grandchildren Damien and Aiden DeFeo, Caitlyn and Brody Kelly, Chase and Skye Cuthbert; plus, many beloved cousins throughout the country.

A Celebration of Life will be held at New Smyrna Beach H. S. Auditorium on Saturday, January 25, from 1-3 P.M.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in William Cuthbert’s name to CAPS, NSBHS’s alumni association, P.O. Box 1808, NSB, FL 32170, or http://www.nsbcaps.com. Please include your name and address so the family can properly thank you.

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