William “Bill” G. Hutchison went home to be with the Lord on April 29, 2025, following a brave and determined battle with an exceedingly rare cancer known as Urachal, which he fought for nearly four years.
Bill was born on March 20, 1956, in Greenville, Mississippi, to William Franklin Hutchison and Glenda Mae (Ferguson) Hutchison. In 2017, Bill met Vickie (Bates) Hutchison. They were married on May 16, 2019, and made their home together in West Frankfort, Illinois. United by a strong faith, Bill and Vickie were devoted members of Whittington Church in Whittington, Illinois, where they loved worshiping and serving together.
Bill is survived by his two children, Nichelle (Brad) Drew and Paige Bertrand, along with her fiancé Nick Alexander. He was a proud grandfather to six grandchildren — Kelsey Drew, Kaleb Drew, Kaitlyn Drew, Halley Drinkwater, Isaiah Bertrand, and Julian Alexander — all of Villa Grove, Illinois. Bill wife, Vickie, has two children and five grandchildren, and they reside in Sesser, Illinois.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William F. Hutchison, and Glenda M. Hutchison, as well as a granddaughter, Kylie Drew, and a grandson, Kolby Drew.
Bill held an MBA and spent over four decades working as an electrical engineer, most recently retiring from Southern Illinois Power Cooperative (SIPC) in 2022. Throughout his career, he made significant contributions to several power cooperatives, always leading with professionalism and integrity.
After retirement, Bill embraced a life of joy and purpose. He and Vickie loved spending quality time with family, sharing meals and laughter with close friends, and traveling with their extended “golf family.” Bill was an avid golfer and a proud member of both Franklin County Country Club in West Frankfort, Illinois and Tara Golf and Country Club in Bradenton, Florida. He especially cherished his twice-yearly men’s golf trips and the camaraderie they brought.
In addition to his love for golf, Bill found great joy in attending his grandchildren’s events and sporting activities. He continued his involvement in local athletics by becoming a licensed umpire, officiating high school and junior high baseball and softball games across Southern Illinois — a role he took great pride in.
A celebration of Bill’s life will be held on Friday May 2, 2025 at 6:00 PM at the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser with Pastor Mark Minor officiating. Visitation will be on Friday from 4:00 PM until the time of the service at 6:00 PM at the funeral home.
Bill will be remembered for his strong faith, kind spirit, and unwavering love for his family and friends. Though he will be deeply missed, his legacy will continue in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Bear Point Church Youth, FCA, Whittington Church Youth, Hospice of Southern Illinois, or Autism Special Olympics in honor of his grandson, Kaleb Drew. Donations will be accepted at the funeral service.
For more information go to our website www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com
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