Bradford Lee Butler

Brad was born January 22, 1939 and raised in Chicago and Oak Park, Illinois where he graduated from Oak Park River Forest High School.

He attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio where he earned his business degree in 1960 and more importantly, met the love of his life, Linda Lee Giller. He joined Theta Chi Fraternity and lived in the fraternity house for a year before marrying his sweetheart. A favorite memory of his was serenading Linda with all of his fraternity brothers standing in front of her dormitory. He also cherished the memory of the time when he placed his pin on Linda on Slant Walk. It was official!

Before he could graduate from Miami, his first son, Bradford Jr., was born and was, in fact, the first baby born in that county on January 1st, 1960. Brad and Linda, and now baby too, spent his senior year living in downtown Oxford across from the post office in an apartment above the hardware store.

Upon graduation from Miami, he accepted a position with Hinde & Dauch, a box manufacturer, and he and Linda moved to Cottontail Court in Cincinnati where their other two children, Brenda and Brian were born. Brad and his family loved living on the cul-de-sac and cherished the close friendships that they shared with their neighbors. During their time there, they attended the local Methodist church where they were active Methodist Youth Fellowship leaders.

Life changed dramatically when Brad and Linda and family moved to Worthington and started his business, Brad Butler & Associates. He spent the next 50 years of his life calling on wonderful customers, who later became friends, in all Ohio school districts, institutions, offices and prisons. His biggest project included selling and installing 8 miles of shelving at The Ohio State Library.

As it seems to happen, Brad got involved in anything that his children participated in: sports, Scouts, church, and music programs. As all three children were musicians, Brad and Linda spent much of their time supporting a variety of music programs at Thomas Worthington High School.

After their children graduated from high school, Brad and Linda moved to a beautiful property in New Albany where they spent the next 40 years, enjoying nature, gardening, raising several English Setters and Dachshunds and loving on their grandchildren. There's no doubt that several of the grandchildren still have a tee shirt somewhere that says "Camp Grandpa" . Their idea of a "dream" vacation was taking their motorhome or fifth wheel trailer to Delaware State Park, along with their doggies, and spend time walking, reading, and biking.

Brad loved being involved in the local band and happily volunteered to learn to play the french horn when the New Albany Community Band had enough trumpet players but not enough french horns. However, he always said that he was best equipped to play the radio.

Brad and Linda joined and attended the New Albany Methodist church where they both enjoyed being greeters. Brad's personality made him the PERFECT person to greet Sunday worshippers at the door. He truly did not know a stranger.

Brad lived for his wife and since her passing in 2018, he lived for his Dachshund, Sunshine. He chose to move to Westerwood in Westerville primarily because they would allow him to bring his faithful companion with him to his new apartment. Brad would rarely be seen around the property without Sunshine by his side.

Brad was a devoted husband, father, business owner, brother, grandfather, son and friend.

Surviving family includes his children, Bradford Lee, Jr. (Holly), Brenda Lee Kerns (Michael Moody), and Brian Lee (Heather); grandchildren, Aaron and Adam Hren, Hannah Kerns, Brandon, Taylor, Savanna and Caden Butler, sister Jeanne, nephews Bob and Scott and other relatives and friends.

In accordance with his wishes, services will be private.

Please consider making a contribution in Brad's memory to The Alzheimer's Foundation, an organization he continued to support on behalf of his wife.