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| Arthur Butler |
Mr. Butler, a former president of the Noon Rotary Club of Plymouth, a member of the board of directors of the Plymouth United Way and president of the church council at Risen Christ Lutheran Church, was a practicing attorney who donated his time to numerous community organizations for more than 30 years.
Mr. Butler was born Dec. 17, 1943, the third of seven children. He was an Eagle Scout and graduated from Marysville High School, where he played football. After two years at Michigan State University, Mr. Butler joined the Coast Guard and attended the academy in Connecticut where he played football.
He and Carolyn Kay Fordham were married in 1972 and their world adventures took them from Michigan to Italy, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Ohio, and Maryland. They were the parents of two daughters, Kristin and Megan.
Mr. Butler retired from the Coast Guard after 20 years and the family returned to Plymouth.
Among Mr. Butler's survivors is his wife of 48 years, Carolyn; daughters, Col. Kristin KB McCall, USAF; son-in-law, Lt. Col Jonathan McCall, USAF, and their children, Duncan Arthur, Áine Kay, and Meara Elizabeth; Megan Marie Butler Schlanser, and her children, Adam Rodney and Jaclyn Read. Mr. Butler is also survived by his mother, Alice Mae Rankin Butler; brothers, Ralph Otis (Elizabeth) Butler IV, Brinton Butler and George (Teri) Butler; sisters Barbara (Jack) Lansing, Beverly (Glenn) Davis and Lorraine Pillow; sisters-in-law Barbara (Pete) Troupos and Debra (Daniel) Behmlander; 26 beloved nieces and nephews and nearly 40 great-nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his “his brothers in blue” including CDR Carl Smith; cadets he adopted including CDR Mike Raber and his family; exchange student, Staffan, and Amy; and his adopted daughters; Megan Ivey and Kathryn Swan, along with a multitude of friends and fellow Rotarians.
A service celebrating Mr. Butler's life took place yesterday at Risen Christ Lutheran Church.
Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.
The family suggests donations to the National Coast Guard Museum Association at www.coastguardmuseum.org or the Plymouth Rotary Foundation at P.O. Box 5401 Plymouth, MI 48170
Final arrangements were entrusted to the Vermeulen Funeral Home.
