William Aaron Gauntt (USAF, Lt. Col, ret.), of Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, went to Heaven on February 24, 2022, surrounded by his family and his beloved dog, Gracie.

Born May 15, 1945 in Greenville, TX and raised in Mount Pleasant, TX. "Bill" was a 1968 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. As a Captain and pilot in the RF-4C Phantom II, he was shot down over North Vietnam on his 121st mission and captured by the enemy. He was forced to walk 300 miles with no boots on to the prisoner of war camp in Hanoi and was there for 9 months until released. His career as a pilot extended to duty as a combat pilot, instructor pilot, Pentagon assignment, and as an Assistant Base Commander in Germany. Bill received a Masters Degree from the USAF Institute of Technology. His Air Force career earned him many accolades, including three Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Bronze Star with a V for Valor, two Purple Hearts, four Meritorious Service Medals, nine Air Medals, two Air Force Commendation Medals, the POW Medal, the National Defense Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal. He retired from the Air Force in 1990 and began a career in Knoxville, Tennessee as an environmental engineer. His final career was in home healthcare, where he had the honor of caring for and spending time with the elderly, often sitting by their bedside in their final moments of life, knowing that one day, others would do the same for him. Bill was loved and admired by people of all ages, including his many grandchildren. His adventurous spirit will live on in each of them as they cherish the memories of him taking them camping, cheering them on during a sporting event, or speaking to their classmates on Veterans Day. Their stories abound of the numerous times he showed up for them.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William Andrew and Ardelia Gauntt and his brother, Michael Gauntt.

He is survived by his daughter, Andrea Gauntt, of Wake Forest, NC, and grandsons, Braedon, Carson and Lucas Stoy; his son, Peter (Jennifer) Gauntt, of Woodrow, SC; his sister Gean Chapman, of Mt Pleasant, TX; his brother Don (Carol) Gauntt of Midwest City, OK; his wife of 33 years, Nancy Powell Gauntt and family, Chris Wilson, Debbie Wilson, Brooke (Andy) Pippenger and Ashley (Drew) Vonderahe; grandchildren, Parker, Barrett, Lizzie and Carter Wilson; Wiley, Janie and Marguerite Pippenger; Annie and Wilson Vonderahe.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, April 8, 2022 at Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church. Reception in the Fellowship Hall begins at 11:00 am, followed by a Memorial Service at 12:15 pm in the Sanctuary with Internment in the LMPC Memorial Garden.

A committal service with military honors will be held at the USAF Academy in Colorado Springs on Monday, April 18 at 10:00 am with a reception following at the Eisenhower Golf Club. Friends and family are welcome to attend the service of their choosing.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Tunnel to Towers Foundation at t2t.org or to Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church, 316 North Bragg Avenue, Lookout Mountain, TN 37350.