William Joseph 'Bill' Butler

William Joseph 'Bill' Butler, 77 years old, passed away August 30, 2007 in Richland, Washington. He was born October 15, 1929, in Brooklyn, New York, to Grace and John Butler.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Grace Hayes Butler; his father, John Lawrence Butler; his brothers, John and Vincent Butler; and his sisters, Marie Hessen and Alyce Clark.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret S. 'Peggy' Butler of Richland; his brother, Ray Butler of Garden Grove, CA; his three sons and daughters-in-law, Dan and Karen Butler of Moscow, PA; Paul Butler and Annie Tholen Butler of Golden, CO; Tom and Betsy Butler of Evergreen, CO; his daughter and son-in-law Nancy Butler and Dan Mantooth of West Richland, WA; and his seven grandchildren and several great grandchildren.

Bill grew up in Brooklyn and Queens with his 5 siblings and mother. His father died of pneumonia when Bill was a toddler, so all of the kids helped out with odd jobs to make ends meet. Bill enlisted in the Navy and served as a weatherman from 1945-1949, primarily in Guam. After the Navy, he entered the Air Force flight training program. Eventually, Bill worked for five years for the United States Weather Bureau in the North Atlantic on Coast Guard Ships out of Boston, in Kansas City, and then in Huron, South Dakota.

In Huron, he met a couple, Martha and Claude Van Epps, with 5 children, Betti, Bob, Marilyn, Dorothy and Dave. The Van Epps family accepted Bill as a big brother to the children and soon became his second extended family. When the Van Epps family moved to Denver, CO, Bill also moved to Denver and started a fifteen year career with AT&T in 1956.

Bill met Peggy in 1957 and they married in 1958. Bill and Peggy soon started their family, first adopting Paul and Tom in 1960. Nancy and Danny followed soon after in 1962 and 1964. Bill was most proud of all his children. He often told Peggy, ''We've'' done good.''

Bill retired from AT&T and started his dream of operating his own business and soon moved the family to Castle Rock, CO, in 1973. Over the next twenty years, he owned various businesses in the automotive industry, including the mainstay Westside Towing in Castle Rock, CO.

Bill loved music, particularly Dixieland jazz and opera. Many lucky clients enjoyed the unique experience of riding in his tow truck listening to Pavarotti or Benny Goodman. Bill sold his business and retired in 1991. He and Peggy spent many wonderful years traveling to visit their children and grandchildren all over the country. They also enjoyed attending Jazz festivals, the Santa Fe Opera, and the Colorado Rockies baseball games. He also had a passion for all things nautical, especially tall ships and sailing. In 2001, Bill and Peggy moved from Castle Rock to Richland, WA, to be closer to their daughter Nancy when extra help was needed.

There will be a memorial service on Saturday, September 8, 2007, at 2 p.m., at Einan’s Funeral Home, 915 Bypass Hwy, Richland, WA 509 943-1114.