Mr. Billy Airline

Beloved Father and grandfather

 WATERBURY - With profound sorrow, we announce the passing of our father, Billy Lee Airline of Waterbury, CT. He passed away peacefully on January 15, 2025 at St. Mary’s Hospital at the age of 72.

Billy was born in Gatesville, NC on October 7, 1952, son of the late Joseph and Evelyn (Arline ) Burrus. He lived in Gatesville until he moved to Waterbury with his family at the age of 12. Billy graduated from Kennedy High School. Billy was a self-taught “jack of all trades”. He was able to take a car apart and put it back together, build furniture from a simple side table to a car bed with working headlights. He could play bass guitar, keyboard and drums. He enjoyed practicing karate and boxing and teaching the art to anyone who would listen. He worked in manufacturing, but his passion was repairing cars. Billy’s greatest enjoyment in life were his 12 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren Each of them was given a special nickname by the time they were one and he never called them by their given name again. He rejoiced in all of his children’s and grandchildren’s accomplishments and would shower them with praise. At the age of 66, he flew on a plane for the first time to see his twin great-grandsons and the Gulf of Mexico. 

Billy was predeceased by his sister, Jesse Mae Smith Brown and his former companion Michelene Ladd. He is survived by his children, Nyda Arline, Melanie Buchanan, Dwayne Ladd and his wife Lisa, Billy Arline and his wife Courtney, and Desmond Ladd and his wife Michele. His grandchildren, who lovingly called him Poppy, Brendan Sanger, Ashleigh Stromski, Dwayne Ladd Jr, Skylar Ladd, Jarrett Ladd, Jaylen Arline, David Stromski, Bella Morales, Devon Arline, Aidan Arline, Payton Ladd and Malia Arline. His great-grandchildren, Marcus and Matthew Sanger. His former companion, Karol Pike. His siblings, Annie Mae Eason, Edward Arline, Robert Arline, Mattie Stallings, James M Burrus and James C Burrus and many nieces and nephews who he loved like his own.

A memorial gathering for Billy Lee will be held on Tuesday January 21st from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at Casey's Eastside Memorial Funeral Home and Cremation Care 1987 East Main St Waterbury, CT 06705. Burial will be held privately and at the convenience of his family. Loving kindness is always welcome, and it only takes a moment to offer a message of condolence and share a memory or words of comfort with the family and friends of someone who was important to you. Please do that on the funeral home tribute page at www.caseyfunerals.com . To send flowers or a memorial gift to the Airline family, please visit our website at www.caseyfunerals.com.