Dr. W. D. Northcutt. III's Obituary
Dr. W. D. Northcutt, III, retired orthodontist and Longview civic leader, passed away on Tuesday, August 12, 2014, at his residence in Longview at the age of 80 as a result of complications from Parkinson’s disease. His funeral will be held at 10 AM on Friday, August 15, at First United Methodist Church of Longview, with burial immediately following at Grace Hill Cemetery under the direction of Rader Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5 until 7 pm on Thursday, August 14, 2014.
William Davis Northcutt, III, was born in Longview on December 24, 1933, the first child of William Davis “Bill” Northcutt, Jr., and his wife, the former Josephine Elizabeth Still, both of them natives of Longview with deep local roots.
W. D. grew up with his parents and younger brother LeGrande on Covington Drive in Surrey Place, which had been developed by his father together with his Aunt Dolly Northcutt and his Uncle Ridley Wheeler. The family were active members of First Baptist Church.
W. D. graduated from Longview High School in 1950, from Baylor University in 1954, and from Baylor College of Dentistry in 1957. He married Susanne Sandberg of Texas City in 1957, served two years in the Air Force in Fairbanks, Alaska, and commenced practicing orthodontics in Longview. His graduate orthodontic education was obtained at Washington University in St. Louis, then St. Louis University, and finally Columbia University. W. D. practiced with Dr. Wade Clendenen until 1974, by himself until 1984, in a subsequent partnership until 1992, and in consultation with Dr. Clark Spencer until retiring in 1995. He was a partner with his brother LeGrande in Northcutt Interests, a property management, real estate, and oil and gas investment company.
W. D. and Susanne reared four children: William Davis the Fourth (Davis), Walter Ridley, Frances Evelyn Compton (Cissy), and LeGrande Sandberg (Le). In 1969, the family moved into the colonial Greek Revival house on Yates Drive in Forest Hills that had been built in 1939 by LeGrande Kelly (not related to the Northcutts), naming it Northknoll. Upon settling in Longview, the family became very active in the life of First United Methodist Church, where W. D. helped set up the Fine Arts Council and served on it until 2010. Susanne, in turn, chaired the kitchen committee for many years. Besides helping W. D. in his civic and social activities, Susanne served as president of the Junior Service League (now the Junior League of Longview) and twice as board chair at Crisman School.
While on the City Council from 1983 to 1987, Dr. Northcutt was elected Mayor Pro Tempore. He was president or board chairman of the Longview Rotary Club, the Gregg County Historical Commission (state agency), the Gregg County Historical Foundation (museum), Crisman School, First United Methodist Church administrative board, Longfellows Association, Summit Club, Longview Museum of Fine Arts, Longview Community Theater, Gregg County Dental Society, Longview Commission on Arts and Culture, Longview Health Service Development Board, and both the Jefferson and Longview chapters of the Sons of the American Revolution.
In addition, W. D. was a director or trustee of Trinity School of Texas, the Hockaday School of Dallas, LeTourneau College Associates, Greenwood Cemetery Association (serving as vice president), Longview Symphony League, Longview Civic Music Association, Good Shepherd Medical Center Foundation, Cherokee Club, Arthritis Foundation, Baylor Dental College Century Club, First Federal Savings Bank of Longview, and a founding corporate trustee of Friends of the Texas Historical Commission. More recently, W.D. was honored as “Citizen of the Year” by the Longview Rotary Club in 2010 and as the first Life Director of the Good Shepherd Medical Center Foundation in 2014.
W. D. was born to service not only in civic affairs, but also in Rotary International. His grandfather Northcutt was one of the founders of the Longview Rotary Club in 1920. His father was on the roster from 1951 until his death in 1971. W. D., in turn, joined in 1964, four months after LeGrande, and maintained regular attendance until two weeks ago. In 1977, W. D. and LeGrande made their mother, Josephine, the first woman honored as a Paul Harris fellow in the club. In the following summer, W. D. began a one-year term as the 58th president.
When asked about hobbies and amusements, Dr. Northcutt said he had none other than service to his town and fellow citizens. Some examples he liked to cite were his creation of the annual “Landmarks of Longview” home tour conducted by Gregg County Historical Foundation, and his perennial labor as master of ceremonies for the annual Longfellows Debutante Ball.
When describing his relationship with orthodontic patients during his long professional career, Dr. Northcutt said that in a year or two of treatment, each of them became like a family member to him. He considered that their thousands of radiant smiles throughout East Texas was his most precious legacy.
Dr. W. D. Northcutt, III, was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Josephine Northcutt. He is survived by his wife Susanne, their son Davis of Longview, their son Walter and his wife Cappi of Longview, their daughter Cissy and her husband Craig Abernathy of Longview, and their son Le of Los Angeles. He is also survived by Walter and Cappi’s sons Nathaniel Graham and William Savage, and by Cissy and Craig’s daughters Amelia Compton and Susannah Searcy and son Logan Northcutt Abernathy. W. D. is also survived by his brother LeGrande and his wife Cassandra and their children Gordon LeGrande Northcutt and Aurelia Northcutt Newton and their respective spouses and children.
The Northcutt Family would like to thank Alicia Robinson, Patrice Flournoy, Debra McGowen, Jennifer Jackson, and Kaye Hill for their tireless support, love, and care.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Trinity School of Texas, 215 Teague Street, Longview, TX 75601, the Gregg County Historical Foundation, 214 North Fredonia Street, Longview, TX 75601, or First United Methodist Church, 400 North Fredonia Street, Longview TX 75601.
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