William Rutherford was born in Kirkcaldy, Scotland on May 16, 1943. His family moved to Southern California when he was 5 years old, and that is when he became an airplane fanatic. His life has been aviation; he served in the United States Air Force, he was employed as an aircraft mechanic, flight engineer and as a pilot. He built his own aircraft, which he flew across the country.

William lived in Saudi Arabia and London and travelled the world extensively. He lived the final 12 years of his life in Houston making the lives of everyone he met better.

On December 30, 2016, at the age 73, we lost the heart of our family. He is survived by his three children; Nancy Ann Young, Lisa Michele Dirks, and Deryck Scott Rutherford. He is also survived by his seven grandchildren; Amanda Kate Baker, Ryan William Young, Reed Alan Young,  Samantha Ann Dirks, William Thomas Dirks, Emily Amber Rutherford-Ward, and Gwendolyn Claire Bowers-Rutherford.