William Joseph Butler

William Joseph (Joe) Butler Jr., age 91 went to be with his Lord and Savior on February 25, 2018. He was born on April 8, 1926 in St. Pauls, Robeson County, North Carolina. He was preceded in death by his wife Elizabeth Ann (Beard) Butler; his parents William Joseph Butler, Sr and Naomi Pate (Fletcher) Butler; brother Dr. James Edward Butler; and son-in-law Kit Allan Wittekind.

William was a 1943 graduate of St. Pauls High School. He attended Mars Hill College, Mars Hill, North Carolina, prior to his military service. Following his discharge from the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1945 he volunteered for the USAA Corps Reserve (1945-1947), and then joined the Ohio National Guard (1947-1950). He was a member of the American Legion for 71 years. He received his degree in Senior Business Administration in 1948 from Bliss Business College, Columbus, Ohio where he was a charter member of Phi Theta Honorary Business Fraternity.

"Joe" married his loving wife of 68 years, Elizabeth Ann Beard of Columbus, Ohio on September 25, 1948. They were blessed with four children; son, James David (Vickie) Butler, Sr.; and three daughters Carole Ann (Thomas) Reynolds, Judith Marie Wittekind and Nancy Elizabeth (John) Stephens; grandsons Nathan William (Elisha) Kuno , Samuel Nicholas (Heidi) Hurst, and James David (Allison) Butler, Jr.; granddaughters Kathleen Anne Butler, Christina Nicole Butler, Amelia Elizabeth Hurst; and 13 great grandchildren; a brother, Julian David (Joann) Butler, Sr. resides in Raeford, North Carolina.

In his younger years, William was a member of the Children of the Confederacy 1861-1865, Scotch Grays Chapter C of C auxiliary to Highland Boys Chapter, North Carolina Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, 12 October 1933, by lineal descent from his great grandfather Joshua David Fletcher of McColl, South Carolina. He became the first Boy Scout of America from St. Pauls N.C. to be awarded the rank of Eagle Scout on 16 December 1940. He later served as organizing Cub Scout Master for the first Pack in his hometown in 1946.

William was an industrious youth. In addition to helping harvest cotton and tobacco he saved earnings from his paper route to buy a bicycle; regularly helped his father on weekends in St. Pauls Post Office; collected newspapers and scrap iron during early WWII; grew vegetables and willow trees for his family, friends and neighbors.

As a member of First Baptist Church St. Pauls, North Carolina, he remained active in Christian youth activities. He was a member of the high school basketball team and his support of The Boy Scouts of America remained throughout his lifetime.

During his lifetime he worked primarily in the fields of banking and insurance with Interstate Securities Co.; Prudential Insurance Co.; office manager for Appliance Distributing Co, Division of Tracey Wells Co., Columbus, Ohio. He retired from American Business Products of Atlanta, Georgia where his primary accounts were Ohio Financial Institutions. He was also co-owner of Butler Farms, Robeson County, North Carolina for 22 years.

He held positions of leadership in First Baptist Church of Grove City, Ohio including terms as Deacon Board Chairman, Pastoral Relations Committee, Grove City Emergency Fund, Men's Bible Study, American Baptist Men's Fellowship and Judson Hills and Kirkwood Campground work crews.

His service beyond the local church included serving as a member of the Columbus Baptist Association, Central Ohio Coordinator of Macedonia Ministries Lay Witness Team and Leaders Team for Christian Education for the American Baptist Convention of Ohio.

In addition he served as treasurer of St. John's Preschool and Kindergarten, organizing member of the YMCA Indian Guides, Little League Coach, and first Political Committeeman of Ward 4 in Grove City, Ohio.

Joe and Elizabeth moved to the Texas Hill Country in Kerrville, Texas in 1991 for health reasons. As a member of Trinity Baptist Church, Joe served on the Deacon Board, Chairman of the Teller Committee, Ministries Committee, and Prime Time Singers.

His many hereditary society memberships included terms as Chaplain and Treasurer of The Hill Country Chapter Sons of The American Revolution and Senior Treasurer and Registrar of Elijah Holcombe Society Children of the American Revolution and Senior State Chairman of the Veterans Committee. He was a Life Promoter of the National Society Children of the American Revolution and Life Member of Magna Charta Barons 1215. He was awarded the Cross of Military Service, United Daughters of the Confederacy 1861-1865, Captain Charles Schreiner Chapter, and became a Life Member of First Families of Texas as a descendant of Moses Butler who left North Carolina to assist Texas in the battle against Santa Anna. Moses Butler fought, died and was buried with Colonel Fannin in a mass grave outside the Presidio at Goliad, Texas.

Joe and Elizabeth returned to Grove City in March 2006 to be near family during their golden years. Joe leaves behind a legacy of love for gardening, landscaping, camping, travel, and genealogy research.

A celebration of life will take place 10 AM Friday, March 2, 2018 at First Baptist Church of Grove City 3301 Orders Rd. with Rev. David Berna officiating. Burial will follow at Union Cemetery. Pallbearers will be sons-in-law and grandsons. Visitation will be 5-8 PM Thursday at the church. The family invites you to leave a message or memory at www.schoedinger.com In lieu of flowers, those who wish to make memorials may contribute to The Veterans of Foreign Wars or a charity of their choice.