Chester O. Butler

Chester O. Butler of Olivet, MI, age 93, passed away Friday May 20, 2015 at the home of his son after a short illness. Chester was born May 16, 1921 in Meade County, Sand Creek Township, Stewart Farms, Kansas the son of Chester O. and Jennie (Moreland) Butler. As a very young child they moved to Salt Lake City, Utah from Meade, Kansas. As a young boy, living in the Meade, KS area he grew up riding horses to school, also did cattle counting for ranchers, and as a teenager he worked in Meade at a gas station. When Chester was 15 years old they moved to Albion, MI where he graduated from High School and then joined the U. S. Navy in the summer of 1941. During World War II he served in both the Atlantic and Pacific aboard the USS Wasp CV7 until her sinking in 1942. He then served aboard the USS Essex CV9 until 1946. During the War he married Alice Williams of the Charlotte and Olivet, MI area on March 19, 1944 and they continued to live in the area for the remainder of their lives. Chester was retired from Eaton Corporation of Marshall, MI. In the mid 1990’s he went to work for Tractor Supply Co. in Charlotte, MI where he worked until the age of “82”. Chester was the old guy helping to load bags of salt into (much younger) customer’s cars. He was a member of the Marshall V.F.W. Surviving are: three children, Dean (Trisha) Butler of Shelby, NC, Steven (Cindy) Butler of Olivet and Penney Butler-TeVelde of Olivet; 6 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by: his parents, step-mother, Ida Butler, half-brother, Harry Moreland, great grandson, Austin Butler and his wife of 62 years, Alice (Williams) Butler on July 14, 2006. Per Chester’s prior request, cremation has taken place. There will be no visitation or funeral services. Memorial contributions may go to the Marshall VFW or to Oaklawn Hospice. Arrangements by Burkhead-Green Funeral Home of Charlotte. www.burkhead-greenfuneralhome.com