William Washburn Pinchbeck

May 6, 1932 - April 18, 2025

William (Bill) Pinchbeck, 92, died peacefully in his sleep on Friday, April 18 in his home in Berlin, Vermont. Born in New Haven, Connecticut to William Elmer Pinchbeck and Harriett Washburn Pinchbeck, Bill attended Guilford High School and Cornell University, where he studied horticulture, and belonged to Alpha Chi Rho fraternity and ROTC. Upon graduation he served in the Air Force in Texas and California as a pilot. After his service he returned to Guilford to help his father with the family rose growing business. His father died several years later, so Bill took over the business, building it into a very successful operation. He was always willing to try new things to improve, switching over to burning wood for heat during the energy crisis in the 1970's; incorporating electric cogeneration steam turbines; and using Apple II computers to run his irrigation systems.

Bill married Kristine Metcalfe in 1959 and had three sons, William, David, and Thomas; Billy tragically died from cancer at four years of age. This experience caused him to prioritize family time. Bill and Kris took their sons on many trips as they were growing up, and instilled in them a love of learning and curiosity about the world. Kris died from cancer in 2000.

Bill married Joan Bonzi Kilton in 2001, a high school classmate, after which they split their time between Montpelier in the winter and Mulberry Point in Guilford in the summer. They were together until her death in January 2025.

Bill had many interests: he learned to speak Spanish in order to communicate with his employees, many of whom had come from Puerto Rico, and continued to study the language for the rest of his life; he enjoyed music, playing his clarinet, oboe, and saxophone with various groups; he was an avid reader of history and biography; he swam every day when at Mulberry point and enjoyed riding his bicycle; he loved to travel, mostly in Europe and the Americas, and he loved spending time with his children and grandchildren, who fondly remember his famous pancakes and daily oatmeal and exercise regimen.

Bill served the community in many ways. He was a longtime member of the Rotary Club; he volunteered in the schools and he served in several roles on town committees.

Besides his parents, his son, and his wives, he was predeceased by his sister Faye. Besides his sons, he leaves his daughters-in-law Margaret Pinchbeck and Bonnie Garmisa, and his grandchildren Clara, Ellie, Simon, and Dorrie.

Donations in his name may be made to the Guilford Free Library, 67 Park Street, Guilford, CT 06437 or the Kellogg Hubbard Library, 135 Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05602.

There will be a graveside service held in conjunction with his wife, Joans's on May 10th at 11:00 am at the Green Mount Cemetery in Montpelier. Joan Pinchbeck died on January 9, 2025. A second service will be held in Connecticut, to be scheduled at a later date.

Arrangements are in the care of Guare & Sons Funeral Ho