Willard "Bill" Everett Dunlop

Willard “Bill” E. Dunlop was born in Charlotte Michigan September 20, 1943, to David and Eleanor Dunlop. He was raised in Niles, Michigan until he was thirteen years old when the family moved to Horsehead Lake in Mecosta, Michigan where Bill graduated high school five years later in May 1962.

Willard joined the Air Force on October 23, 1962, completing basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas followed by various tech schools. He started his 23-year career at Lackland AFB followed by a tour at Wheelus Air Force Base in Tripoli, Libya with the K-9 Unit. He spent time in Kincheloe AFB in Michigan, Klamath Falls Air Station in Oregon, CFB Bagotville in Canada, TUSLOG Det 93 in Incirlik, Turkey, and Clear Air Force Station (now Clear Space Force Station) in Alaska. Throughout his long Air Force career, he was stationed at Malmstrom AFB three times before retiring in 1983 as a Master Sergeant, choosing to stay in Montana.

Willard married Carlene Delores Walcutt on November 16, 1965, in Lansing, Michigan. They had two sons, David Everett Dunlop II on May 23, 1966, and then three years later they welcomed Christopher Carl Dunlop on September 26, 1969. Together as a family they enjoyed hunting and exploring the Montana wilderness. The walls of their house depicted this well, from Michigan Whitetail, Canadian moose, and an Alaskan bear to many other Montanan game animals. If it wasn’t hunting season, you could usually find Bill with a fishing pole in his hand. Bill and Carlene moved south of Monarch to a cabin they built as a family after 20 years in Great Falls. The two lived under the “Indian Chief” mountain for 30 wonderful years before moving back to Great Falls in 2020.

Many winters were spent traveling the south portion of this great country from the shores of California to the southernmost tip of Florida. Many winters were enjoyed in either Arizona or Alabama with every trip fitting in a trip back to Michigan to visit with both sides of the family. They also enjoyed a trip to Alaska in their fifth wheel. Bill was a lifetime member of the NRA, the Disabled Americans Chapter 2 in Great Falls, as well as the VFW post in Belt.

Bill, age 82, departed this life early in the morning on September 11, 2025. He was preceded in death by his parents, David Everett Dunlop and Eleanor Emma Dunlop; and brothers David K. and Thomas Dunlop.

He leaves behind his cherished and beloved wife, Carlene Dunlop; two sons, David Dunlop and Christopher (LeeAnn) Dunlop, all of Great Falls; sister, Marilyn (Homer) Filley of Mecosta; eight grandchildren, Jason (Myanne) Sulivan of Minot, Allie (Justin) Weber of Fort Worth, Sharid Dunlop and , Nikki (Chance) Howell both of Great Falls, Jaycee (Daniel) Jordan of Bozeman, Jourdyn (Michael) Kuiper, Joshua Dunlop, and David (Bridget) Dunlop all of Great Falls; twelve great-grandchildren, Brayden Weber, Joey, Jada, Everett, and Ariella Sulivan, Rhiatt Dunlop, Barrett and Noah Howell, Navee and Brady Jo Kuiper, and Jace and Jocelyn Jordan; as well as a host of other family members.

There will be a graveside service with full military honors on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at 11 am at Highland Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, we are asking for donations to The Wounded Warrior Project.