Kendy County Texas – Richard Earl Butler passed away on Sunday, January 14, 2Ol8 at his home at the Punta del Monte ranch in Kenedy County, Texas. He had celebrated his one hundredth birthday on June 2, 2017 with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife of sixty-six years Lydia Yturria Butler, father Earl J. Butler, mother Fannie Butler, brother Bob and sister Joyce.
Richard (Dick) was born and raised in Kent, Ohio. He graduated from Kent State University where he was president of his fraternity and captain of the Kent State football team.
Following his childhood hero, Charles Lindberg he joined the Army Air Corp during World War ll. He took his cadet air training at Fort Brown in Browsville, Texas where he met his future wife Lydia Yturria.
After the war Richard Butler signed up with Pan American World Airways. First being stationed in Brownsville, Texas flying DC 3’s to Mexico and Central America. Richard ended his career with Pan American World Airways thirty-three years later flying a747 SP to the Orient.
He is survived by his sons Daniel Y. Butler (Shirley) and Richard E. Butler (Christine), granddaughters Francisca Yturria Wittenbach (Troy), and Christine Yturria Buford (Trey), great-grandsons Mclean Yturria Wittenbach and Richard Gage Wittenbach, Francisco Yturria Buford and William Robert Buford lV., and niece Liza Schwartz (Mike).
Memorial donations may be made to St. Anthony Catholic Church, 464 South First Street Raymondville, Texas 78580. The family would like to thank the following persons who took care of Richard in so many ways, Francisca Covarrubias, Rafaef a Olmos, Christy luarez, San Juana Perez, Beatris Jimenez, Carol Anguiano, Rosa Castillo, and Lorena Castro.
The family would also like to thank Lulu Tovar and Nicolasa Galvan from Buena Vista Funeral Home in Brownsville. Lulu Tovar also helped with our mother ten years ago and her help was then and is now greatly appreciated.
Published in Valley Morning Star on Jan. 27, 2018