WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
John Howard Butler Sr., 91, of Three Rivers, died Monday, April 11, 2011 at Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers following an extended illness. He was born on July 8, 1919 in Charlotte, Mich. to Fred E. and Hazel M. (Brooks) Butler. He married Adelia Church on Sept. 19, 1946 in Charlotte; she preceded in him death in 1999.
A veteran of the U.S. Navy during World War II, he served as a motor machinist mate on PT Boats for the D-Day invasion at Normandy and in the Pacific. A resident of Three Rivers and Jones for many years, he was a member of the United Methodist Church of Jones, the Jones American Legion and the Veterans PT Boat Association.
He was employed by the Michigan Department of Transportation as a supervisor over St. Joseph, Cass and Berrien counties, retiring in 1980.
He is survived by two sons, Kenrick G. (Frances) Butler of Three Rivers and John H. Butler Jr. of Florida; three grandchildren, Chrissy, Michael and Matthew; one sister, Clara.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; daughter, Gloria Jean Harris; three brothers; one sister.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 14 at Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta. Memorial contributions may be directed to the PT Boat Museum, P.O. Box 38070, Germantown, TN 38183. A procession will leave at 12:30 p.m. Thursday from Matt and Mike’s Eatery to Ft. Custer. Arrangements by the Eickhoff, Farrand, Halverson Chapel in Three Rivers.
