William “Bill” Sullivan Fairbanks III, 91, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, passed away peacefully on August 23, 2026.
Bill was born in 1934, to Clifton Alexander Fairbanks and Grace Bradford Fairbanks of Pineville, Louisiana. He graduated from Bolton High School, served in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany, and later attended Louisiana State University.
Golf was Bill’s passion. He first learned to play at the age of 12 on the old Rapides Golf and Country Club course, located next to Greenwood Memorial Park Cemetery, formerly owned by his parents, Cliff and Grace. Some of his fondest memories were made there playing with his uncle, brother, and cousins. Bill became a scratch golfer and continued to play the game he loved in Baton Rouge into his 70’s.
Hunting was his other great passion. He treasured the time spent hunting with his father, brothers, cousins, nephews, and friends at the family camp. His love of hunting also took him on two memorable big-game hunting trips to Africa.
Bill was preceded in death by his son, William Sullivan Fairbanks IV; his daughter, Amanda Louise Fairbanks; his father, Clifton Alexander Fairbanks Sr.; his mother, Grace Bradford Fairbanks; his brothers, Brad Fairbanks, Pete Fairbanks, and Glenn Douglas Fairbanks; and his sister, Frances Fairbanks Crawford.
He is survived by his daughter, Elizabeth Ann Fairbanks Ezell of Santa Fe, NM; his grandchildren, Alexandra Noel Shepherd Ahlers and husband, Pete of Encinitas, CA; Avery Elise Shepherd of Austin, TX; Benjamin Lee Shepherd of Chicago, IL; and his new baby great granddaughter, Nora Grace Ahlers of Encinitas, CA.
Bill also held a special place in his heart for his beloved nephews, niece, and several close cousins.
He was never short on stories to tell about his time growing up, his family, and adventures. Some learned not to ask too many questions and others, especially his nephews, loved to hear them.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at 1:00 pm at Hixson Brothers Funeral Home, 2701 Military Highway, Pineville, followed by internment in Greenwood Memorial Park Cemetery, Pineville.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to woundedwarriorproject.org, a charity he supported for many years.