William R. Thibeault

RUTLAND – William Roland “Bill” Thibeault, 94, of East County Road, died Thursday, September 4, 2025, at the Rose Monahan Hospice Residence in Worcester.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 29 years, Lillian L. (Carrington) Vallier Thibeault of Rutland; three children, Alan Thibeault and his fiancée Doreen Bechan of Rutland, Glenda Shugart and her husband Brian of Worcester, and Susan Fath and her husband Paul of Martinsburg, WV; his stepdaughter, Linda A. Saad and her husband Mark of North Oxford; his brother, Richard Thibeault of Boylston; five grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson. He was predeceased by his first wife, Lillian A. (Prest) Thibeault who died in 1995; a brother, Paul Thibeault; and two sisters, Helen Trottier and Florence Merchant.

He was born in Holden on December 31, 1930, son of the late Joseph T. and Eva (LeBlanc) Thibeault, and resided in Rutland since 1963. He was the oldest and longest-living resident of East County Road.

Mr. Thibeault retired from Heald Machine – Cincinnati Milacron in Worcester in 1991, where he worked as a machinist. Being an active person, he decided to drive school bus for McCarthy and Sons for 7 years, where he was known by the kids as Mr. Bill.

In his spare time, he bred and raised California Show Rabbits for over 50 years, having over 100 rabbits at times. He became an ARBA registrar and judge, and showed his champion rabbits throughout Canada and Mexico with Lill #2. He won hundreds of trophies and awards. He belonged to several rabbit clubs across the U.S. He was an ARBA member and a lifetime member of the national Cal Club, where he was also named Cal Man of the Year in 1976.

He was a member of the Greendale Men’s Club. He loved to play cards and take a good trip to the casino.

A private graveside service will be held at Rural Cemetery in Rutland. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741, or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942.

Paradis-Givner Funeral Home in Oxford is directing the arrangements.