Donald J. Butler Sr. Obituary (1932 - 2012)

CHELMSFORD-Donald J. Butler, Sr., 79, a longtime resident of Chelmsford, died suddenly May 23rd at Lowell General Hospital. He was the beloved husband of Nancy (Greenwood) Butler, with whom he would have celebrated his 57th wedding anniversary in August. He was born on June 25, 1932 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and was a son of the late William P. and B. Belle (Barnes) Butler. He was educated in the Johnstown Schools and graduated from Johnstown Central High School, class of 1950. He was also a graduate Northeastern University earning a bachelors degree in Law Enforcement. He did post graduate work at the American International College in Springfield, MA. Don proudly served his country in the United States Navy during the Korean Conflict and was attached to the Navy Airdales as a radar operator. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in March 1955. He was a member of the Chelmsford Police Dept. from 1958-1971. While on the Police Dept. he attended the International Narcotics Training School in Washington, D.C. He designed the original Chelmsford Center Rotary which was implemented in 1970. While on the Police Dept. he was a member of the Narcotics Squad. He resigned from the Police Dept. in 1971 to accept an administrative position as a Resource Counselor with the Chelmsford School Dept. He retired from this position in 1993. After his retirement, he enjoyed driving a special needs van for Town & Country Transportation of Chelmsford. Don was an avid Boston Celtics fan. He was a loving father & grandfather. He thoroughly enjoyed his family, especially his precious granddaughter and his six wonderful grandsons. He was a member of The American Legion Post 313, The Disabled American Veterans, former Treasurer of the Chelmsford Kiwanis Club, and Northeastern Universitys Epsilon Rho Honor Society. He also served on the Board of Directors of Share a Drug Rehabilitation Organization. He was an active member of the Central Baptist Church, Chelmsford, where he served thru the years as a basketball coach, a Sunday School teacher, a member of the Board of Trustees, and as a Deacon. In addition to his beloved wife, Don is survived by three loving sons and daughters-in-law, Donald Butler, Jr. & his wife Eva (Emanouil) Butler of Chelmsford, Daniel Butler and his wife Pamela (Rice) of Amherst, NH, and Douglas Butler and his wife Ginny (Kenney) Butler of Tyngsboro; one granddaughter, Amy Lyn Butler; six grandsons, Daniel J. Butler, Jr., Donald J. Butler, III, Christopher Butler, Kyle Butler, Kevin Butler, and Matthew Butler; a brother William Butler and his wife Miriam of Lorain, Ohio; sisters-in-law Mary Butler of Greenwood, SC, Connie Pickard of Chelmsford, and Barbara Greenwood of Chelmsford; brothers-in-law Ronald Greenwood and his wife Ann Marie of Chelmsford, and William Greenwood and his wife Joan of Chelmsford, and his very close friend Adam Wasylyshyn and his wife Diane of Groton, as well as many nieces and nephews. Donald was predeceased by his siblings Lois Miller of Armagh, PA, Dorothy Nour of Cairo, Egypt, and Richard Butler of Greenwood, SC. Visiting hours on Wednesday, May 30th from 4 to 8 pm at the BLAKE FUNERAL HOME, 24 Worthen St., CHELMSFORD. Due to reconstruction at the Central Baptist Church, his Funeral Service will be on Thursday, May 31st at 10 oclock at the Central Congregational Church, One Worthen St., Chelmsford. Interment in Pine Ridge Cemetery, Chelmsford. In lieu of flowers, donations in Donalds memory may be made to the Central Baptist Church Organ Fund, 9 Academy St., Chelmsford, MA 01824. Visitation May 30, 2012 4:00pm - 8:00pm, Blake Funeral Home 24 Worthen Street Chelmsford, MA 01824 Service Information May 31, 2012 10:00am, Central Congregational Church 1 Worthen Street Chelmsford, MA 01824 Interment Location Pine Ridge Cemetery 130 Billerica Road Chelmsford, MA 01824