Silas Ray Cruthirds Jr. was a focused, determined man for 65 years. He always had a project going on. His passions were many: he was an athlete, motorcycle man, dancer, landscaper, handy man, fashionista, sailor and pilot. He was both a ferocious fighter pilot and concerned commercial pilot, a darn good pilot. He loved his family and showed it in many ways. His marvelous dry wit made everyone stop, think and smile.
At 58 years, Ray's life was drastically altered. He was made a quadriplegic at the hands of a drunk driver on 11 December 2011. Ray fought his paralysis and constant physical pain with dignity for almost 7 years, but lost the battle on 3 October 2018. His family loves him and will miss him so very much.
Ray was born on 8 April 1953. He is a 1971 graduate of Gulfport East High School, a 1973 graduate of Perkinston Junior College and a 1975 graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi. He flew the F-4 and then the F-16 until his retirement as a Lt Col from the U.S. Air Force. He was forced to retire from American Airlines as an International Captain on the Boeing 737 when he was paralyzed. He proudly flew several different commercial airliners for American Airlines.
Ray is preceded in death by his father, Silas Ray (Jack) Cruthirds, Sr. and his mother, Sibyl Wallace Cruthirds.
Ray leaves behind his wife of 42 years, Letha Greenwood Cruthirds, his daughter Marcy Cruthirds, his sisters, Claire Irene Arndt (Bill) and Jacque Lynch (Mark), his brothers, Chuck Cruthirds (Frances) and Mark Cruthirds, his nieces, Rachel Duong (Loc) and Daisy Grant, his nephews, Zachary Cruthirds, Ross Cruthirds, and Jordan Lynch (Samantha), his great-niece, Mila Duong, and his great-nephews, Ray Duong, and Quinn Duong.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Ray's honor to the Humane Society of South Mississippi, 2615 25th Avenue, Gulfport, MS 39501 or hssm.org.
Ray has always said he did not want his own gravesite, so, his request for cremation, no viewing, no funeral service and no memorial site is being honored.
Share your memories and send condolences to the Cruthirds family at www.smfs.us
To send flowers to the family of Silas Ray Cruthirds Jr., please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.
