| Dr. Richard N. "Rick" Butler, age 57, of Normantown, West Virginia, went home to be with the Lord at 5:06 p.m. on Tuesday September 22, 2009 while doing what he loved, working on the family farm.
Rick was born April 3, 1952, in Braxton County, to the late William Jennings and Lucille Smith Butler.
He was a 1970 graduate of Gilmer County High School, a 1974 graduate of Glenville State College, and later received both Masters and Doctoral degrees from West Virginia University.
In 2007, Rick retired after 33 years of public school experience. During his career, he served the students of West Virginia as a teacher at Gassaway Middle School, Parkersburg High School, Hamilton Junior High School, and Franklin Junior High School. He also served as assistant principal at Franklin Junior High School, principal of Gilmer County High School, and as a faculty member in the Education Department at Glenville State College. Rick concluded his life-long career as superintendent of schools in both Gilmer and Ritchie County.
Knowing Rick meant knowing a Christian who lived what he believed. He was an active member of the Sand Fork Baptist Church, where he served as not only the worship leader, a Sunday School teacher, and trustee, but also as the church liaison for building projects.
Rick was a loving husband and father whose quick wit, sense of humor, and respect for others made his priorities clear, his faith, his wife and children, education, and the family farm to which he returned in 1991 to raise his children.
Surviving are his wife of 35 years Mary Katherine "Kathy" Poling Butler and their three children, son Michael Butler and wife Kate of Woodbridge, VA; daughter Jennifer Wible and husband Bob of Dunbar, WV; and daughter Allison Atkins and husband Chris of Huntington, WV.
Also surviving are three sisters and four brothers: Dorothy Oliver and husband Bob of Mason, WV; Donna Joan Lambert and husband Bob of Atwater, OH; Karen Brady and husband Ken of Parkersburg, WV; Melvin Butler and wife Stephanie of Waynesburg, PA; William Butler and wife Rebecca of Ann Arbor, MI; Robert Butler and wife Linda of Parkersburg, WV; and Douglas Butler and wife Susie of Colorado Springs, CO.
Funeral Services will be conducted at 1:00 p.m., Sunday, September 27, 2009 at the Sand Fork Baptist Church with Preachers Phil Wilson and Kenny Fisher officiating.
Friends may call from 2:00-8:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 26, 2009 and one hour prior to services on Sunday, September 27, 2009 at Sand Fork Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Richard N. Butler Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o Glenville State College Foundation, 200 High Street, Glenville, WV 26351.
Ellyson Mortuary, Inc. is assisting the family of Richard N. "Rick" Butler with arrangements.
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