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Barbara Lea Butler, age 94, of Portage, died Tuesday, February 21, 2023 at Bronson Commons in Mattawan. She was born in Ypsilanti on December 6, 1928 the daughter of Donald and Dorcas (Knaggs) Young. She was a 1946 graduate of Adrian High School. Barbara was married to John R. Butler on Sep. 3, 1949 in Adrian. She was a supervisor of telephone operators for General Telephone & Electronics (GTE) until 1951. They moved to Athens in 1968, and to Three Rivers in 1973 where she went to work at Denton Mills in Centreville. She was a member of the Mendon Rovers Camping group, and the Mendon Women’s Club. Barbara and John retired to Zephyrhills, Florida and in May of 2014 returned to Michigan. Barbara has resided at Bronson Commons the past two years.
Barbara is survived by her husband of 73 years, John Butler of Portage; daughter, Leslie (John) Vogler of Mendon; granddaughter, Angie (Jeremy) Gibson; and two great-grandchildren, Christean Gibson and Haeden Gibson. She was preceded in death by her parents; her son, David Butler; and sister, Shirley (Melvin) Cooley.
In keeping with her wishes, cremation is being conducted. A memorial service is being planned for the near future and will be announced by the Eickhoff Funeral Home of Mendon. Memorial donations may be directed to a charity of one’s choice. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.eickhofffuneralhome.com
