BURLINGTON - William Edward Osgood, died May 9, 2010 in Burlington.

Born March 24, 1926 in Nashua, New Hampshire to Horace Edward Osgood and Ethel Trow Osgood.

He enlisted in the Tenth Mountain Division in 1945 and saw his first military action in Italy in the final assault against Nazi Germany at Riva Ridge in Italy.

He married Thelma Slabaugh on June 18, 1948 whom he met while guiding atop Cannon Mountain.

He graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 1951 with a degree in English, and from Simmons College with a Masters of Library Service.

He lived most of his life on Mill Hill in Northfield and was the librarian at Goddard College from 1956 to 1971 and later at the Center for Northern Studies, Vermont Historical Society, and the Green Mountain Club.

Bill leaves behind his wife of 61 years, Thelma; daughters Kathleen Osgood Dana and Deborah Meyer with her husband Jon Meyer; grandchildren Elvira Dana with her husband Jason Kass, Nathan Dana with his fiancée Allison Rice, Jonas Meyer, and Rustom Meyer; and his first great-grandson Gideon Kass.

Always an outdoorsman, Bill is known for his writing on life in winter, including the first cross-country ski book and The Showshoe Book, as well as his life-long work in the mountains of New England.

In his retirement years, he was trailmaster, beekeeper, and Master Gardener.

A service of remembrance was held at Wake Robin on May 15.

A Memorial Hike for Bill Osgood to be led by his grandsons Nathan Dana and Jonas Meyer will be held on May 23rd, between 10 and 2, at the home place, Ravencroft, 806 Loop Road, Northfield. Please bring a stone to add to Bill's cairn and a lunch to eat or something to share.Further information from Nathan Dana at 802.846-7679.

Contributions may be made in his name to the Green Mountain Club.