William “Bill” Roy Bates, 79, of Westminster, Vermont passed away on May 11, 2025, at home, surrounded by those that loved him. He was born on November 15, 1945, in Bellows Falls, Vermont to Floyd and Arlene (Davis). He attended schools in Bellows Falls and graduated from high school in 1964. Bill worked for 33 years for Green Mountain Power, retiring as a head lineman. After retirement, he spent his time working as a school bus driver, and carpenter.

Bill married Teresa “Terri” Gaspardino on September 9, 1967; they remained married until his passing. After marriage, they moved to Westminster, Vermont where they raised their family.

Bill leaves behind his beloved wife, Terri; his children, Jodi (Joshua) Lemieux; Jeremy (Kimberly) Bates; Jessica (Jeffrey Sholes) Bates; Jennifer (Timothy) Wyman; sister, Lorraine Yates, and brother, Robert Bates. Bill is also survived by his six grandchildren and many more extended friends, in-laws, nieces, and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents.

Bill always made time for his family. It was not unheard of to find him with his brother in-laws, Alan (“Gaspar”) or Fred. They could regularly be found going to breakfast, or lunch, stacking wood or running to fix someone’s house. Bill loved to chat with anyone and everyone that he ran into. In his spare time, he could be found spending time with family, helping others, doing carpentry and woodworking projects, working on cars and taking care of his treasured dogs.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in Bill’s memory to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

A Funeral will take place on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at 11:00 AM at St. Charles Church, Cherry Street, Bellows Falls with a burial immediately following at St. Peter’s Cemetery, Drewsville Road, Walpole, NH.

Arrangements are entrusted to the care of the Fenton and Hennessey Funeral Home, Bellows Falls, VT.