Charles Lynn Butler

Lynn was born in Wichita Falls, TX to Abe and Rose Butler on September 9, 1947. In 1965, upon graduating from Liberal High School in Liberal, Kansas, Lynn was accepted to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. He graduated in 1969 with a degree in aeronautical engineering. The day after graduation, Lynn married Mary Rose Gerber, his high school sweetheart, in the academy chapel. This was the beginning of Lynn’s dedicated service as a United States Naval Officer, husband, and father of four. He attended flight school in Pensacola, FL and earned his masters at the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, CA. Lynn’s naval career took the family to Florida, Rhode Island, Greece, California, Hawaii, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and five separate tours to Northern Virginia. Lynn especially enjoyed his years as a naval helicopter pilot.

In 1999, after thirty years of service, Lynn retired from the Navy and the family made Annandale, VA their permanent home. He spent another ten years working in the private sector at Northrop Grumman in engineering and project management. Lynn spent many years as an active parishioner of St. Michael Church in Annandale. He was a member of their Knights of Columbus council. He also served as an Arimathean assisting funeral masses at the Old Post Chapel for burials at Arlington National Cemetery. Lynn enjoyed hiking and overnight getaways with Mary Rose in West Virginia and especially loved spending time with his grandchildren.

Lynn was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his beloved wife of 51 years, Mary Rose; his brother Bruce (Kathy) Butler of Sherman, TX; his children and their spouses; Christine (Dave) Clark of Madison, NJ, Mac (Julie) Butler of Severna Park, MD, Gabe (Shelly) Butler of Aldie, VA and Malia (Jeff) Collins of Vienna, VA. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren; Isabelle, Mac, David, Genevieve, Aubrey, Charlie, Jack, Will, Veronica, Sadie, Jeffrey and Robert.

Burial with full military honors will take place at Arlington National Cemetery in 2021.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Michael Catholic Church Knights of Columbus (Council Number 14523) 7401 St. Michaels Lane, Annandale, Virginia 22003 or to Catholic Charities at www.catholiccharitiesusa.org.

Copy and paste the following URL into your internet browser to view a eulogy written by Lynn’s children and delivered by his oldest daughter, Christine Clark:

https://youtu.be/tNi-xVT0rV0