Bill died Dec. 8, 2008 at Porter Hospital in Middlebury, Vt.  He was born in Burlington, VT on Nov. 12, 1939. He attended Syracuse University after graduating our class.  He joined the US Army in 1959 and was an operating room specialist and surgeon's assistant at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. until his honorable discharge in 1962.  Following his return to civilian life, he received his degree from Paul Smith College in 1965.

He worked as food service director at Cornwall, NY Hospital and Helen Hayes Hospital in Haverstraw, NY for many years.  In Panton, he owned and operated Burnett's Country Store until retiring in 2003.

He served as an EMT on the Cornwall, NY Rescure Squad.  He was a past president of Vergennes Lions Club and the current president of Brandon-Forestdale Lions Club.

Bill played Santa for area corporate, club and school functions.  He was an avid reader and history buff, and a volunteer for Bridges and Beyond Outreach Group in Rutland, VT.

Survivors include his wife Linda of Brandon, whom he married in Syracuse, NY, on Sept. 2, 1961; a son, Christopher of Bennington, VT and a daughter, Cynthia Betters of Cornwall, NY; four grandchildren and several nieces, nephews and cousins.