Baton Rouge, LA - Dr. William Cuttino Sanders Jr. passed away peacefully in his sleep on Sunday, July 26, 2026, in Baton Rouge. He was 87 years old.

Bill was born on September 13, 1938, the firstborn son of Helen Robinson Sanders, later Helen Robinson Dalby, and William C. Sanders Sr. Over the course of his life, he was a son, a brother, a husband, a father, an uncle, a grandfather, and a friend to many. He was also a talented dentist, an intense tennis player, a marathon runner, an animal lover, a sports fanatic, and a relentless competitor.

Bill spent much of his childhood moving around the country with his parents and younger brother, Bob, before the family eventually settled in Bossier City, Louisiana. There, he attended Bossier High School, played football and basketball, and graduated in 1956. He began college at Centenary College in Shreveport before transferring to LSU in Baton Rouge for his senior year, where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. During that time, he met the late Dr. Steve Wilson of Baton Rouge, who became both a lifelong friend and a longtime doubles tennis partner.

He attended Loyola University in New Orleans for dental school and graduated in 1964. He then settled in Shreveport with his first wife, Dixey Thornton, and opened his first dental office on Kings Highway. He and Dixey had two daughters, Piper and Ginger. Later, he married Sou Garrett, and they had two children: a daughter, Garrett, and a son, Bill III, whom he affectionately referred to as "Son."

Bill later moved his business to 2042 Line Avenue, where he built his practice over a span of 42 years. He gravitated toward dentistry because of its unique ability to improve not only a patient's oral health but also their smile. He understood that the confidence gained from a healthy smile could have a lasting impact on a person's life. More than anything, he loved connecting with his patients on a personal level and learning about their lives.

His family will cherish memories of searching for sand dollars on the beach, taking road trips to Dallas Cowboys home games, playing family tennis matches (often dubbed "The Championship of the Earth") and sharing countless adventures rooted in some type of competition, whether it was a game of H.O.R.S.E., ping pong, racquetball, tennis, or nearly anything else. He had a unique way with words and, over time, developed his own set of quirky expressions and phrases, many of which will remain an enduring part of his children's vocabulary.

Bill faced and overcame many obstacles in his life and persevered through personal struggles. After moving to Baton Rouge in 2020, he was able to spend more quality time with his children and grandchildren. He handled the reality of his declining health with a quiet strength and grace that made his family proud. His last days included watching the Wimbledon tennis finals, feeding the neighborhood geese, and playing checkers with his children and grandchildren.

Bill was predeceased by his parents, William C. Sanders Sr. and Helen Robinson Dalby; his beloved son-in-law, Mike Wyatt; and numerous dogs, including Tramp, Wilson, and Scout, who undoubtedly met him at the pearly gates with tails wagging.

He is survived by his four children: Piper Wyatt of Dallas; Ginger Auer and her husband, Britain Auer, of Dallas; Garrett Callaway and her husband, Scott Callaway, of Baton Rouge; and Bill Sanders III and his wife, Lauren Sanders, also of Baton Rouge.

He is also survived by his grandchildren, Dixey Piper Auer, Wyatt Auer, Sanders Callaway, Brooks Callaway, Anna Ellis Sanders, and William Sanders IV; and by his brother, Bob Sanders, and sister-in-law, Barbara Sanders, of Columbia, South Carolina.

The family wishes to thank the many caregivers who cared for Bill over the past few years, particularly Dr. Jennifer Greeson, Dr. Matt Rolfsen, Jon Rills and the wonderful staff of Audubon Home Health and Hospice, as well as the caregivers at Southside Gardens and Landmark of Baton Rouge.

The family plans to gather privately for a celebration of Bill's life at a later date.