William Osler Huckabay Jr. CAPT U.S.N. (Ret.)

Funeral services for William Osler Huckabay Jr. CAPT U.S.N. (Ret.) will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 27, 2025 at First Baptist Church, 543 Ockley Dr., Shreveport, Louisiana. A visitation will be held in the Parlor from 1:00 p.m. until time of service. A graveside service will be held at 4:00 p.m. at Springville Cemetery in Coushatta, Louisiana. Officiating the service will be Dr. Jeff Raines.

Bill was born July 28, 1935 in Mansfield, Louisiana, in DeSoto Parish and passed away on Thursday, August 21, 2025.

He graduated from Coushatta High School in 1953. He was extremely proud of his H.S. basketball team which won the 1953 Class B H.S. Championship.

After graduating with his Bachelor’s degree from Southern Arkansas-Magnolia College, Bill joined the United States Navy on October 10, 1957 by being accepted into the Officer Candidate School (OCS) in Newport, R.I. After over 23 years of outstanding service to his country, including commanding two U.S. Naval Destroyers; the U.S.S. Taussig, DE-1030, and the U.S.S. Koelsch, DE-1049, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal. While on active duty he graduated from the Junior War College, Newport, R.I. and the Senior War College, Maxwell AFB, AL. He also attained a Master’s Degree at Auburn University-Montgomery. He retired from active military service December 31, 1980.

His early retirement years were spent as a professional fishing guide on Toledo Bend Reservoir. He then became the Director of the non-profit Louisiana Wildlife Federation in Baton Rouge, LA. He became involved with racehorses with his long-time friend U.S.A.F. Col. Pat Long. This led to him becoming the manager of the Elmwood Farms in Coushatta, LA working with his uncles Dr. Jackie Huckabay and Lt. Col Terrell Huckabay, U.S.A.F. (Ret).

On September 11, 1989, he became the Director of the Shreveport Medical Society. His 29 years of service to the northwest Louisiana medical community culminated in his recognition by the members of the society, with being made an honorary member of the Shreveport Medical Society and receiving the 2018 Distinguished Service Honor Award on November 30, 2018.

A huge part of his life revolved around his extended family at First Baptist Church of Shreveport. His treasured fellowships with the members of the G.I.F.T. Sunday School class were essential to his day-to-day growth in his faith. The love and support by his church sustained him during his recent illness.

He is preceded in death by his parents, William Osler Huckabay Sr, and Zelma Lloyd Huckabay; brother, George Lester Huckabay; his wife, Nancy Carolyn Huckabay; and his first wife, Leticia V.B. Kenty.

He is survived by his brother, Donald Wardlaw Huckabay and wife, Rita Jane Harvey Huckabay and their children, David Brian Huckabay and Kay Renee Huckabay Walmsley; his aunt, Edna Beth Hayes; his two sons, William O. Huckabay III and Edgar A. Huckabay; stepdaughters, Clista Adkins, Tracie Woods and Mary Evelyn Whitehurst and their families, and all his cherished nieces, nephews, and step-grandchildren.

Pallbearers are William Kolodzey, James T. Huckabay, Jr., Kenny Loftin, David Calhoun, Joshua Ongena, Brian Huckabay and Chris Walmsly.

Honorary Pallbearers are Dr. Robert Hernandez, Dr. Jeff White, Dr. Dean Griffon, Dr. Bruce Williams, Cody White, Reimer Calhoun Jr., Johnny Jacobs, Roy Jacobs and George Lloyd Huffman.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the following: the non-profit Shreveport Medical Society, Physical Wellness Program, First Baptist Church of Shreveport or a charity of choice.