In Memory
William Thomas “Bill” Gillett
December 10, 1929 - October 12, 2025
Las Cruces, NM - William Thomas “Bill” Gillett passed away Sunday, October 12, 2025, at the age of 95. Bill was born December 10, 1929, in Portland, IN, to Walter and Ina Margaret (Doty) Gillett. He graduated from Riley High School in South Bend. He married Verna Jean Bybee on May 27, 1949.
Bill retired from I & M in 1991 after working at the Twin Branch plant in Mishawaka, IN, and the D. C. Cook Nuclear Plant in Bridgman, MI. He had previously worked for the Studebaker Corp. Shortly after his retirement, he and Verna moved to New Mexico after living in South Bend, IN, and Buchanan, MI. During his retirement, he got to pursue woodworking and model building, which he loved. He also became an avid RC plane builder and flyer and was a member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics, AMA. Everyone described him as “one of the good ones.”
He is survived by two daughters, Donna (Richard) Gehring of South Bend, IN & Dolores (Darrell) Ward of Las Cruces, NM. Also surviving are 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Margaret Jane Judkins, his son, John William Gillett, and his daughter, Betty Lou Gillett.
There will be a celebration of life on Monday, October 20, 2025, from 10 a.m. to noon, at The Las Cruces Village Craft room, 3011 Buena Vista Circle. Burial will take place at a later date in Green Park Cemetery, Portland, IN.
10/18/2025 djb
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