James (Jim) McEwen Cutler, age 91, of Issaquah, WA, died at home November 17th of respiratory failure.
Jim was born 14 Sept 1927, at Hood River, OR, the son of Prentiss Lincoln Cutler and Eleanor Virginia McEwen, of Dee, OR.
Growing up Jim lived at various locations in Eastern Oregon and Southern Idaho. He was in the ROTC in High School, then joined the Navy’s D-Five Aviation program. As a civilian he continued to fly in Boise, ID, becoming a flight instructor, charter pilot and then an airline pilot in 1957. His flying career brought him to the Seattle area in 1959, where he retired as a 757 captain for Northwest Airlines in 1987.
In 1970 Jim was awarded the Daedalian Civilian Air Safety Award and the FAA Distinguished Service Medal for actions as captain of an Air West Airlines passenger flight which caught fire over Eastern Washington in 1969.
Jim’s favorite pastimes included playing with his dogs, amature radio, computer games and crossword puzzles.
Jim married his wife of 31 years, Betty (nee Bassett) in Bangkok, Thailand. He was previously married to Sheila Donnan of Spokane, WA. Children are Kathleen Willner, Gerald (Lesley), Donald (Cyndi) and Douglas (JoAnn). Jim also has nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Jim is predeceased by his parents, sister Virginia Lee Cutler, twin brother Prentiss Lincoln Cutler and brother Philip Leo Cutler.
Services will be private at Jim’s request; memorials may be made to the Issaquah Food Bank, issaquahfoodbank.org.