Luther E Butler

Luther Earl Butler, 93, passed away July 19, 2016 surrounded by his loving family. Earl was born November 4, 1922 in Baytown, TX to the late Luther Marion and Ida Gertrude Hart Butler. Earl graduated from Lee High School in Baytown in 1940 and went to work at the Carbide plant. He worked there both in the field and in the chemistry lab. When Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, Earl joined the Navy, the first to enlist from the Carbide site. He trained in Chicago and was sent to Panama where he was a medic and helped build a hospital in the jungle. He came home for a two week leave in July of 1943 and married his high school sweetheart, Allene Cooke. He was then sent to the South Pacific’s Solomon Islands where he continued as a medic for the rest of the war. At the war’s end, he and Allene lived in Providence, Rhode Island until he was discharged. Earl and Allene then moved back to Baytown and attended Lee College before moving to Birmingham, Alabama where Earl received his degree in Pharmacy. They moved back to Texas, living briefly in Baytown and Lampasas before moving to Port Lavaca in 1954, where he and his wife raised their family. Earl worked five years at Sterling Drug on Main Street, then opened Butler Pharmacy on Virginia St., across from the hospital. He worked here for 10 years before finishing his career with Bottom Dollar and Stanley’s and retiring in 1986.

Earl and his wife were active members at First Baptist Church, Port Lavaca and enjoyed traveling with friends and church groups throughout their retirement years. Earl loved to fish and hunt ducks and geese along with other hobbies which included writing and photography. After the loss of his wife in 2007, Earl remained at their home until his recent move to the Port Lavaca nursing home.

Earl is survived by his daughters, Reba Butler Kochersperger, Jan Butler Wilson and husband Buddy; grandchildren, Mike Kochersperger and wife, Jeanne; Greg Kochersperger and wife, Jo Marsey; Megan Wilson Downs and husband, Steve; Katie Wilson Wood and husband, Eddie; Clif Wilson; great grandchildren, Max, Holden and Madison Kochersperger, Ben Kochersperger, Conner and Kylie Downs and Brooke, Haydn, Malachi and Carter Wood.

Earl was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Allene Cooke Butler; twin brother, Lester Dearl Butler; sister, Mary Helen Butler McMurrough and great grandson, Reid Wilson.

A visitation for friends and family will be Thursday, July 21, 2016 from 6-8 PM at Richardson Colonial Funeral Home in Port Lavaca.

Funeral Services will be Friday, July 22, 2016 at 11 AM at the First Baptist Church in Port Lavaca.

A graveside service with full military honors will be held Saturday, July 23, 2016 at 2 PM at the Hill of Rest Cemetery in Baytown, TX.

Honorary pallbearers are Jim Story, Dr. Jerry Pentecost, Dr. Jack Beeler and Les Stringham.

In lieu of flowers the family requests a donation in Earl’s name to a charity of your choice.

Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.richardsoncolonialfuneralhome.com.