Born in Cambridge, England, he was the son of the late Sidney and Constance Elderkin Buttress.
He was living with his family in London in 1939 when World War II was declared. For the next six years, the family endured stringent food rationing and often faced German bombing which required them to seek shelter during the day and at night. He later wrote a book about growing up in London during World War II.
After the war, when he was 18 years old, Peter joined the Royal Air Force. He became a medical orderly at the RAF Hospital in Uxbridge, Middlesex, and an air ambulance orderly, flying between England and Egypt. He was honorably discharged from the RAF in 1953.
Peter then immigrated to the United States and began working for IBM in New York City. He had advanced to become a salesman for the company in Hornell, NY when he decided to take a leave of absence to study at Alfred University in Alfred, NY. There he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in English. After graduation, he spent a year studying at Princeton Theological Seminary and later did graduate work at the University of Connecticut.
He returned to IBM in 1962 where he remained for 25 years, advancing to Director of Personnel. During that time, he worked at several IBM facilities in the US including its Corporate Headquarters in Armonk, NY. He also collaborated with employees at numerous IBM offices and manufacturing plants in the United States, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. He retired from IBM in 1987 and soon began working as a Vice President of Personnel for a subsidiary of British Airways.
As an English major in college, Peter had a deep desire to write, and when an opportunity arose in 1990 to write for The News Times, a Danbury, Conn. newspaper, he was hired. A year later, he became a reporter for the Worcester (Mass.) Telegraph & Gazette, and the Hartford Courant in Connecticut.
He moved to Lexington in 1997 and became a freelance writer for The State newspaper, concentrating mostly on human interest stories. His articles also appeared in the Miami Herald, the Lake Murray Magazine, and other publications.
As an immigrant who achieved a measure of success, Peter felt grateful for the opportunities that came his way and to the people who helped him succeed. Consequently, he gave of his time and resources to numerous nonprofit organizations. He served as a trustee at Alfred University, which honored him with the prestigious Lillian Nevins Alumni Recognition Award for his service to the university. He was also a board member of Boy’s Village, a residential school for troubled youth in Milford, Connecticut; and as a South Carolina Guardian ad Litem, representing abused and neglected children in family court. He regularly took his beloved therapy dog, Chase, to the Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital in Columbia and to local nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
Peter is the author of two children’s books, “Chase Gets a Medal” and “Chase Gets a Pen Pal” that teach children how a therapy dog can lift the spirits of those who are sick, lonely, or just need a friend. He visited numerous elementary schools and libraries in Lexington County where he read his books and let youngsters get to know his dog. After his therapy dog Chase died, he organized group crossword puzzles with the residents of Still Hopes, Presbyterian Homes and Oakleaf Village.
He is survived by Sheila Grogan, his loving wife; his daughter, Judy Watson (Matthew); his sons, Drew Buttress (Jo), Paul Buttress and Ian Buttress; 14 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. In addition, he is survived by Sheila’s three children, Cecilia, Gilberto (Rossana), Joan (Roberto) and their children. He was predeceased by a sister, Jo Nash and a daughter, Gillian Edge.
At his request, Peter’s body was cremated. The family will welcome friends to the Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, 503 North Lake Drive, Lexington, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM on Saturday, December 17, 2022.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.caughmanlexington.com for the Buttress family.
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