William “Bill” Francis Cotter of Townshend, Vermont, formerly of Wilmington, Vermont, and the Massachusetts towns of South Yarmouth and Hopkinton, passed away peacefully with his daughter by his side on Oct. 14 at West River Valley Cares in Townshend, Vermont. Born in Framingham on Sept. 27, 1932, to John and Irene (Fournier) Cotter, Bill graduated from Framingham High School in 1951 and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He was stationed at Chicksands radio squadron base near Bedford, England, and was responsible for intelligence communications and Morse code translation. Bedford is where he met the love of his life, Joan, and they enjoyed 57 wonderful years together until her death in 2011, which broke his heart. Bill worked many years in construction and retired from the Town of Sherborn in 1995. He went back to work part-time at the Cape Cod Times for several years after his retirement.

Joan and Bill enjoyed traveling and took many trips back to England to visit family and friends. They also enjoyed many bus trips together, meeting new friends while traveling to several parts of Florida, the Carolinas, Virginia Beach and Maryland. Bill loved to sing, dance with Joan, work outside in his yard and spend time watching the New York Giants and Boston Red Sox. He was happiest when he was spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Bill is survived by his three children, Paul and wife Kerin, Teresa and partner Gerald DeGray, and Philip and wife Janice. He had five grandchildren, William (Kayla), Danielle, Samantha (James), Marc (Lexi) and Alexandria, and five great-grandchildren. Bill also is survived by his sister-in-law, Louise Cotter, and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his wife and parents, he was predeceased by his brother, John, and his three sisters, Cecelia (Cotter) Brodie, Lorraine (Cotter) Patrician and Doris (Cotter) Hanna.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date with a private family burial.

The family would like to thank the staff at Valley Cares for the compassionate care given to their father and grandfather. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bill’s memory to Valley Cares Assisted Living, P.O. Box 341, Townshend, VT 05353 or Bayada Hospice, 1222 Putney Road, Suite 107, Brattleboro, VT 05301.

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