Kenneth Floyd Butler
Kenneth Floyd Butler entered into eternal life on Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2016, at his home in Hagerstown, Maryland.
He was born June 19, 1922, in Martinsburg, and was the son of the late Floyd John Butler and Bertha Mae Wilson Butler.
He was a devoted husband, father and Christian man.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Alice Marie Butler, who passed away recently, on Nov. 9, 2016. It is believed that Kenny died of a broken heart.
He was also preceded in death by one brother, Todd W. Butler of Martinsburg, and his son-in-law, Mark Donnelly, of Frederick, Maryland.
He was a graduate of Martinsburg High School Class of 1940, Hagerstown Community College, and Shepherd University. He also attended West Virginia Wesleyan College, and the University of West Virginia, where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, and a reserve Officer ROTC.
Ken was a life member of the Church of the Holy Trinity-UCC, Oak Ridge Drive, Hagerstown, where he served in many capacities. He was a member of the Rotary International Club of Williamsport, Maryland, and held previous memberships in the Hagerstown and LA Plata Rotary Clubs. He was a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International.
He was a life member of the National Rifle Association, The Pegasus Club Sons of the Confederate Veterans Berkeley Border Guards, Elks Lodge 378, the Washington County Museum Association, the Experimental Aircraft Association, the Cherry River Navy of West Virginia, the Alumni Association of Hagerstown Community College, and Shepherd University Alumni, and was active in the Boy Scouts of America, serving in many capacities, including Neighborhood Commissioner and Scout Master.
He spent most of his career as an Industrial Engineer, within many diversified U.S. government aircraft design, manufacturing and test programs, including NASA aircraft. While employed with Fairchild Stratos Corporation, he made significant contributions to space-oriented programs, including the Fairchild Pegasus Micro Meteoroid Detection Satellite MMC, the NASA Geodetic Satellite System for Thor-Delta Vehicles, the Raytheon Radar Tracking Antenna, and the U.S. Signal Corp. Diversionary Drone System AN/USO-5. His last employment was with the United States Navy Sea Command, as Program Manager of the Harpoon Cruise Missile Ship Deployment and Weapons Handling Systems, with the U.S. Naval Ordinance Station.
He met his devoted wife of 61 years, Alice Marie, at Fairchild Corp. where they were both employed. They married on July 30, 1955.
He is survived by two daughters, Susan Donnelly of New Market, Maryland, and Carol Ann Malott and her husband, Frank, of Williamsport, Maryland; one sister, JoAnne Jule Butler Henretta of Sarasota, Florida; one sister-in-law, Shirley Ann Fitzhugh of Charlotte, North Carolina; four granddaughters, Jenna Donnelly and Justin Grubby of New Market, Erin Malott McCoy and her husband, Aaron, of Williamsport, Lauren Donnelly and Craig McIntyre of Rockville, Maryland, and Emily Malott Henesy and her husband, Joshua, of Williamsport; one great-granddaughter, Addison Leigh McCoy; and great-grandson on the way, Bennett Ryan Henesy.
Funeral services were conducted at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 29, at Rest Haven Funeral Chapel, Hagerstown, with the Rev. Mike Simane officiating. Interment followed in Rest Haven Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Washington County, 747 Northern Ave., Hagerstown, MD 21742.