Paul D. Butler

OBITUARY PAUL DELBERT BUTLER Paul Delbert Butler, age 85 of Bolivar, passed away at 6:50 AM Saturday, June 30, 2007 in the Citizens Memorial Hospital in Bolivar. He was born on August 10, 1921 in Dunnegan, Polk County, Missouri the son of Harry Delbert Butler and Tommie Blanch Baker Butler. He and his brother Bob grew up in Dunnegan, MO where Paul attended grade school. His father & mother owned and operated a general merchandise store until a fire destroyed the business in 1933. The family then moved to Bolivar, where Paul attended and graduated from Bolivar High School in 1940. One of his first jobs at the age of 15, was with Walter S. White and Willard B. Buck Erwin, who owned the White-Erwin Funeral Home in Bolivar. He continued working at the funeral home after high school. In the early 40s he drove a gas truck for the Al Taylor Phillips 66 Oil Distributorship. At the time he was dating Mary Lou Trogdon, whos father, R. Lail Trogdon owned the Standard Oil Distributorship. World War II began, and in in 1942, Paul was drafted in to the United States Army serving with the 3042 Quarter Master Graves Registration Co. While in Europe he served In Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes in the Central Europe Campaigns. He was awarded 5 Bronze Stars, and the Good Conduct Medal, In addition he was awarded the European-African Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon, with two overseas bars. Just before he was discharged he was selected to serve as part of the honor guard at the funeral of General George S. Patton. During a leave from duty, he came back to Bolivar and on April 1, 1943, Paul and Mary Lou were united in marriage. To this union two children, were born, Robert Stephen and Marsha Lou. After the war, Paul came back to Bolivar and worked for Buck Erwin at the funeral home, then enrolled in the The College of Mortuary Science, St. Louis, MO, graduating in 1946. Paul, always had an interest in automobiles and while in St. Louis, he would buy cars for Bill Roberts Chevrolet and drive them back to Bolivar. Upon his return to Bolivar, Paul & Mary Lou established their home. Paul worked for Mr. Erwin at the funeral home and then began selling cars at Bill Roberts Chevrolet in 1947 until 1958. He was one of the Top 10 Salesman in the U. S. in 1955 in the Chevrolet Motor Division. After the death of Mr. Erwin, Paul and Mary Lou purchased the Willard B. Erwin Funeral Home from Mrs. Elsie Erwin on August 16, 1958. Paul was involved in the Bolivar Community for many years, serving as the President of the Chamber Of Commerce, President of the Bolivar Kiwanis Club and was Polk County Coroner for many years. He is also a member of the First Christian Church of Bolivar. He was a life member and the oldest living member of the Howard S. Keeling American Legion Post #138 in Bolivar, also a life member of the Veterans Of Foreign Wars. He was recognized as a 60 year member of the Missouri Funeral Directors and Embalmers Association and the National Funeral Directors Association. Also a member of the Missouri Cattlemans Association and the Polk County Cattlemans Association. Paul loved to fish on Lake Pomme de Terre and Stockton Lake and was an avid quail and pheasant hunter, making many trips with his local buddies to Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota. Paul also had a memorable fishing and hunting trip to Canada with his friend Joe Rayl, which he loved to talk about. He also had a cow-calf farming operation for many years. Since Paul had the love for automobiles, he was always trying to find a car for people to buy and later became a dealer, establishing Paul Butler Motors, until his health began to fail and he gave up his dealers license at the end of 2006. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Robert Daniel Butler and Sarah Jane (Wollard) Butler; Charley Baker and Daisy Grace (Paul) Baker; his father-in-law and mother-in-law R. Lail Trogdon and Mary Elizabeth (Bowers) Trogdon, his parents, Harry D. Butler and Tommie Blanch (Baker) Butler; his brother, Charley Bob Butler and his wife Mary Lou (Trogdon) Butler. Surviving is his son, R. Stephen Butler and his wife Jarolyn of Bolivar; his daughter Marsha Lou Butler and grandson Justin Michael Butler of Springfield, MO; his sister-in-law Alice Butler of Bolivar, his nephew Brent Butler of Bolivar and his niece, Jana Veith and husband John of Springfield, MO; Also his aunt, Flossie Grace Smith of Bolivar. Several cousins and a host of many friends. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Thursday, July 5, 2007 at the Butler Funeral Home Chapel with the Reverend Harold Hendrickson and the Reverend Doctor Ron McIntire officiating. Eulogy and Obituary reading will be by Kenneth R. Howe, and Charles W. Vaughn. Music selections will be How Great Thou Art Amazing Grace (Going Home) performed by Ronan Tynan, "I Can Only Imagine" by MercyMe. and "Go Rest High On That Mountain" by Vince Gill. Also a patriotic salute to all veterans. Casketbearers will be Ralph Butler, Joe Rayl, Charles W. Vaughn, Darrol Cribbs, Justin Butler, Kenneth R. Howe. Honorary Casketbearers will be: Phillip L. Smith, Charles J. Martin, Robert W. Watkins, Lowell Inman. Burial will be in the Greenwood Cemetery under the direction of the Butler Funeral Home of Bolivar. Military honors will be conducted by the AMVETS Post 114 of Flemington, MO. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church of Bolivar or the American Heart Association. Friends may sign the guest book or send private condolences at www.butlerfuneralhome.com PDF Printable Version

Paul D. Butler

August 21, 1921 - June 30, 2007