Dr. Bill Cunningham
DecEMBER 5, 1947 - AuGUST 16, 2026
"I declare my loving gratitude to all of my family and friends for a full life of loving relationships. My final prayer is that the love of my heart pass to each friend and family member! Trust and believe that I love you from afar until we are all together for eternity in spiritual unity with our God in heaven. Amen.”
Remembering
Life and Legacy
It is with immense grief and profound love that we announce the passing of Dr. William Lawther Cunningham, PhD (Bill) after a nearly two-year battle against cancer. We know that he is now at peace and with God, already watching over all of us with his beautiful smile, soft and twinkling eyes, and endless joy, love, and humor.
Bill is survived by his loving wife (Joyce), sons (Chris and Andy), four siblings (John, Jim, Liz, and Barbara), two cousins (Nancy and Joanie), and one brother-in-law (Jim), along with their beloved spouses and families. He loved deeply his two grandkids, 22 nieces and nephews with their spouses, and 12 grand nieces and nephews. Loving relationships remained at the heart of Bill’s life and he will be dearly missed by countless lifelong friends who were like family to him.
Read the full Obituary →Celebrating
Bill's blessings to all of us.
A devoted Husband
A life built for love
At the center of everything was Joyce. Together they built a family rooted in love, joy and faith — raising two sons, welcoming grandchildren, and staying connected to family near and far. Bill and Joyce always opened their home to friends and neighbors who became family. Their 55-year marriage was a living testament to the vows they made and renewed through their unwavering commitment to Worldwide Marriage Encounter. Love endures and inspires and this was important to Bill - a life committed to nurturing loving relationships.
A Dedicated DAd
Always there, always supportive
Chris and Andy grew up knowing their Dad would always be there for them and their dreams — at concerts, at games, at graduations, and especially at the quiet moments in between. Bill brought the same patience and attentiveness to being a Dad that he gave his clients in his professional life: unhurried, warm, and deeply intentional. He was the kind of Dad who listened first, who showed up without being asked, and who made his sons feel that nothing in his world mattered more than they did. Bill was forever proud to be Andy and Chris' Dad and always looked forward to celebrating and supporting all their pursuits in life.
A GIFTED PSYCHOLOGIST
Four decades of selfless service
As a clinical and school psychologist, Dr. Bill spent over 40 years helping Vermont's most vulnerable children and families. His private practice, Vermont Educational Support Associates, became a cornerstone of the Rutland community and wider network of professional care for juvenile psychology throughout the state of Vermont — a place where challenges were met with compassion and hope was restored and renewed. He was remembered by his colleagues and clients for his warmth, dedication, humor, and selfless commitment to helping in any way that he could. He often recommended that the quickest way to find joy is to do something nice for someone else without them knowing it.
A Neighbor WHO WAS ALWAYS A FRIEND
An open door (and heart) for all
Whether on Hitzel Terrace in Vermont or at the Oxford in Tennessee, Bill had a gift for making everyone around him feel seen, supported, and loved. His humor, warmth, and willingness to help made him the kind of neighbor and friend that people cherish for a lifetime. Whether it was grilling in the backyard or fetching the morning paper, Bill would always make time to wave, smile, and have that positive conversation that would lift the spirits of everyone around him. He and Joyce built their home in Rutland, Vermont and hosted countless holidays with family and friends, sled runs, Marriage Encounter gatherings, and much more - truly creating lifelong memories for all. They continued to host holiday gatherings with family and special ping pong games with their grandchildren while at the Oxford in Tennessee; and cherish each and every one of their loving neighbors today.
a (big) family man at the BIG YELLOW CAMP
A special love for time at 'the Point'
Few places held Bill's heart like Colchester Point on Lake Champlain. He proposed to his beloved wife, Joyce, here. He celebrated the 50th anniversary of his marriage here. And from childhood to the final weeks of his life, his family's Big Yellow Camp was where Bill was most fully himself — surrounded by the people he loved, at peace with the world, and with timeless conversations on the porch with close family members and childhood friends. He cherished making pancakes in the camp kitchen for everyone, walking down the beach with Joyce at dusk, and just relaxing with his brothers and sisters under the beach umbrellas looking out at the Adirondacks and reflecting on what was, is, and is still yet to come. 'Camp' to Bill was the cherished place of laughter, long and joyful 'You and You's', and the kind of quiet joy that stays with you forever. He was famous saying, 'Get to the Point' and quoting the LL Bean Bag that reads, 'If you get lost, come straight back to camp'. Bill's spirit will forever be alive throughout Colchester Point.
His memory, light and love lives on in all of us.
If you wish to share a memory or a moment about Bill, please feel free to share below or reach out to us anytime.
Go to Bill's Tributes and Memories