William A. “Bill” Gillette, 90, of Londonderry, NH died Tuesday January 13, 2009 in the Pleasant Valley Nursing Center, Derry, NH. Bill was born in Los Angeles, CA on March 4, 1918, son of the late Edwin and Frances (Anderson) Gillette. A longtime Londonderry resident, his family was among the first settlers in Londonderry. He was a WWII US Army veteran. Bill worked as a dairy farmer and a self-employed carpenter, having built numerous homes in Londonderry. In his younger days, Bill logged on Crotched Mountain using only a mule and a hand saw. He was also a 55-year member of St. Mark’s Lodge #44, F & AM of Derry and a member of the USDA Forest Service.
He is survived by several cousins, his close friends and caregivers, Matthew and Janice Joubert of Londonderry, his neighbors and many friends. He was predeceased by his wife, Phyllis (Harriman) Gillette in 2008, his son, Charles Gillette in 2005, his daughter, Patty Gillette in 1967 and by his brother, Robert Gillette.
Calling hours were held on Friday January 16, 2009 from 5 – 7pm in the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 290 Mammoth Rd., Londonderry. A Masonic service was held Friday at 6:45pm with a funeral service that followed at 7:00pm in the funeral home. Burial will be in the Pleasant View Cemetery, Londonderry in the spring. Memorial contributions may be made to Forest Products Laboratory, 1 Gifford Pinchot Dr., Madison, WI 53726-2398.