James R. Butler died at Whidbey General Hospital in Washington from a heart attack Dec. 5, 2012. He was 79.
Mr. Butler was born in Delta to Bernard and Belle (Browning) Butler and graduated from Delta High School in 1951.
He married Elizabeth Johnson Nov. 22, 1958, at Moffitt Field, Calif. They celebrated 54 years of marriage.
Following high school, Mr. Butler worked in the uranium mines before joining the U.S. Navy in January 1952. His duties as a flight engineer led him to assignments around the world, including Vietnam, and on various aircraft carriers. He retired as a command master chief after 30 ears of honorable service. After retirement from the U.S. Navy he worked 15 years for Whidbey General Hospital as head of the engineering department.
After his second retirement he spent his time as the neighborhood handyman. He was also a member of the sheriff's department volunteer patrol.
Mr. Butler enjoyed being a husband, father and grandfather, hunting, fishing and camping. He was an expert shotgun trap and skeet shooter.
He is survived by his wife, Beth of Oak Harbor, Wash.; sons, John Butler and wife Rose of Great Lakes, Ill., William Butler of Oak Harbor, Wash.; one daughter, Lori Stokes of Mansfield, Texas; eight grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
Memorial services with full military honors were held Dec. 13 in Oak Harbor, Wash. Next summer his ashes will be spread in the mountains of Colorado which he loved.
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