SOUTH PARIS — William “Bill” Rosario Gilbert, 76, died Wednesday, Feb. 7, at Market Square Health Care Facility, following a long illness.

He was born Nov. 28, 1941, in Lewiston, the son of Edward and Anna (Dionne) Gilbert. He attended Lewiston schools and was a member of the Maine National Guard.

He was a member of the Webber Avenue and Acme Snowshoe clubs. He worked as a salumist for L & A Sausage and later worked as a pie-maker for his family’s business, Market Square Restaurant.

In 1965, he married Lucy C. LaMarca, of South Boston, Mass., and together they had four children. “Wild Bill,” as his friends called him, loved animals and would often “adopt” animals from them. Over his lifetime, he had taken in many pets, including dogs, cats, birds, ducks, chickens and even a monkey.

He was a shark when it came to playing cards, particularly cribbage, and his favorite version of that game was “Cut-throat.” He enjoyed spending time with family, particularly kids, as he was not much more than a big kid himself. He was a practical joker who lived to hear and tell jokes. His nephews, Steve and Jeff, made him laugh the loudest, as most of the jokes they told him would be considered inappropriate. He loved professional wrestling, Lawrence Welk and the Boston Red Sox.

He later married Jeanette Richard, of Turner.

He is survived by his four boys, Richard of Naples, Fla., Scott of Harrison, Todd and his girlfriend, Beverly Gibbs, of Oxford, and Michael and his wife, Stephanie, of Boynton Beach, Fla.; his six sisters, Gloria Beers, Constance Walsh, Jayne Burns and her husband, Stillman, Anita Murphy and her husband, Pat, Donna Spugnardi and her husband, Theodore, Susan and her husband, Brian; a brother, George, and his wife, Constance; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and his best friend, Rene Chicoine.

His family would like to thank the many caretakers at Market Square Health Care Facility for their professionalism, care and kindness.

William “Bill” R. Gilbert

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