WILLIAM H. LETTERS

WHITING — William (Billy or Bill) H. Letters died May 24, 2026, at the forever age of 49 years old.

Billy was a tried & true Vermonter, hardy, resourceful and chock full of grit. He was a dear friend, confidant, mentor, scholar, musician, master beer brewer, gardener, artist and gentleman — a kindred soul for all of us. His heart was so much bigger than most and he put everyone ahead of himself, always. He knew how to listen … just listen, and helped many of us appreciate the small things and forgive the hard things. He was a caring, compassionate and kind soul. Billy had a gift … Billy was the gift for so many of us.

Music was a big part of Bill’s life. He was a wildly talented and under-recognized drummer. You may have seen him keeping the beat in the Gamblers if you were into country music or making people get out of their chairs and dance in Sundog or the New Nile Orchestra. And he could keep a good jazz rhythm too, as so many people heard at Woody’s Restaurant in the early 1990s in the So-Called Jazz Sextet. There was even a really good Funktet band for a while.

For many years, Bill worked for CSAC & was dedicated to helping people with mental illnesses. He treated even the most difficult clients with respect and compassion.

He worked at many other landmark businesses such as A&W, Otter Creek Brewery and Two Brothers Tavern. At Two Brothers Tavern in Middlebury he found his forever extended family that stuck by him and cared for him even after he made the decision to finally “retire.”

Bill was also a wonderful cook and gardener. He was particularly fond of growing hot peppers. He enjoyed introducing friends to the beauty and subtle taste differences of what many consider only on the heat index. For years, he supplied the Jamaican apple pickers with a taste of home they longed for. They called him “PepperMon,” which made Bill very happy.

So, how do we ever close the chapter on such a beautiful and meaningful soul? We don’t, ever. We take the lessons of love, loyalty and compassion that he instilled in us and we pass them along to those we love so that our world may be a better place. Tell the people in your life how much you love and appreciate them. Great people are hard to come by, and when they do cross your threshold, grab them and hold on tight. Bill, you were and always will be one-of-a-kind and we will never, ever forget you. Thank you for making all of our lives so much richer.

While Billy is survived by many friends, we would like to take a moment to recognize his dear friend, Nina. Above everyone else, Nina has stood by Bill’s side for more than 30 years, through thick and thin, loving him, looking after him and caring for him. We are so deeply appreciative for her love and support of our dear friend.

A celebration of life will be scheduled soon, and we will keep everyone posted. ◊