Mr. William L. "Billie" Rutland, 89, of Tallahassee, Florida, formerly of Lenox, Georgia, passed away November 23, 2014 at Seven Hills Health and Rehabilitation in Tallahassee. He was born in Cook County, near Lenox, on April 24, 1925, to the late Thomas M. and Polly V. Blount Rutland. He was a member of Lakeview Baptist Church and was a retired owner/operator of a radio repair company. Mr. Rutland also served his country honorably during World War II in the Army Air Corps. His crew flew nineteen missions over Japan during the Pacific Campaign and he was very proud that he was part of the crew of the lead aircraft that flew over the battleship USS Missouri during the ceremony marking the official surrender of Japan on September 2, 1945.

Mr. Rutland is survived by his loving wife of 68 and a half years, Mattie Brumblow Rutland of Tallahassee; a son and daughter-in-law, J. Andrew and Brenda Rutland of Huntsville, Alabama; a daughter, Pamela Rutland Payne of Tallahassee; four grandchildren: Kevin and Allison Payne of Tallahassee, Melanie and Todd Kurn of Marietta, Georgia, Melissa and Jim Roberts of Greensboro, North Carolina, and Blake and Mary Rutland of Nashville, Tennessee; and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son-in-law, George Payne, Jr.; and two brothers, Leonard Rutland and Leon Rutland.

Funeral services for Mr. Rutland will be held Wednesday November 26, 2014 at 1:00 PM at Lakeview Baptist Church in Lenox with Rev. Dillard Ensley officiating. Interment will follow at Lakeview Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Lakeview Baptist Church one hour prior to the funeral service. Kevin Payne, Blake Rutland, Jim Roberts, Todd Kurn, Larry G. Rutland, Jerry Rutland, Terrell Rutland, and Carroll Rutland will serve as pallbearers. The congregation will sing "Blessed Assurance" and "Jesus Loves Me;" the Betts Family will sing "The Old Rugged Cross" and Susie Betts will play the piano. Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to Lakeview Baptist Church. Condolences may be expressed to the Rutland family online at www.boonefunerals.com.

--Boone Funeral Home is serving the Rutland family.