Wiley Morton Butler

~faithful father, husband and grandfather~

Wiley Butler was born August 5, 1924 in Danville, Illinois. He was the second son born to Orval and Delona Butler. Later Wiley had three sisters; Louise, Vivian and Evelyn.

Orval Butler had fought in WW 1 in the Argonne Offensive. He was a saddler in the US Army, by occupation he was a harness maker. When he returned to Danville from his army duty, he met Delona Feezar at The Soldier’s Home in Danville and soon they married….

They lived with Morton and Bertha Butler, Orval’s parents at the corner of 13th Street and Georgetown Road Rout #1, in Danville Illinois, where Wiley was born in his grandparent’s home.

Soon Orval built a house in Tilton and Wiley attended Daniel School there. High School was in Danville and Wiley then lived with his parents near the High School. Grandpa Butler had a harness shop 16 North Hazel Street in Danville. Grandpa would give Wiley a ride to school in his car on his way to the harness shop.

Wiley’s father had a gym, also in Danville, one of many areas of employment during the years following the depression. For a while Wiley boxed with the Golden Gloves and never lost a fight.

In High School Wiley became good friends with Charlie Dye. They would play Ping-Pong during their lunch hour and subsequently Charlie hired Wiley to do a newspaper route. Charlie paid Wiley 35 cents a week, this was 1941.

Graduation from High School was 1942. Wiley worked in a machine shop and then enlisted in the Navy.

Wiley served in the Navy 3 years as a radio man and this was during the historic battle of IWO JIMA.”

“This five-week battle is considered some of the fiercest and bloodiest fighting of the War in the Pacific of WW II.” (According to Wikipedia)

The following is taken from Wiley’s Diary:

“On Oct. 10, 1944 Wiley was on the USS Dark APA 159 a brand new ship commissioned at Astoria Oregon.”

“On Feb. 18 arrived IWO JIMA Battleships, cruisers and planes giving IWO JIMA hell. Sub sank about 300 yards away. Marines hit the beach, red Beach #2. 72 hours of IWO JIMA.”

“Feb. 25 left IWO for Saipan with causalities (206). The ship sailed to many other islands and later returned to San Francisco November 18, 1945. He declined an offer to go to China and thereafter left the Navy with an honorary discharge.

After serving his country, Wiley pursued additional education and employment. Wiley first studied at Allied School of Mechanical Trades and Illinois Institute of Technology of Chicago. Later he furthered his studies at Mount San Antonio College, Citrus College, Chaffey College and Azusa Pacific College.

In the late 40’s and early 50’s, Wiley worked in Illinois and Indiana as a Sprinkler Engineer. In 1952 he headed west, all the way to California, where he worked in the Aero Space industry. He started out as a design and test engineer, progressing into a Tech Writer. His last 23 years as a Tech Writer were with Lockheed Aircraft in Ontario, California, retiring in 1989.

In 1952, Wiley married Kathleen Fabbo and 2 years later they had a daughter Wileen. The marriage did not last long as Kathleen divorced Wiley.

In 1964 Wiley married Mona Bostrom, from Stockholm Sweden. Wiley and Mona have 3 daughters: Hanna, Lena and Gena all married and have given Wiley and Mona 11 grandchildren; Bryce, Brady, Bailey, Reagan, Amanda, Avery, Jordan, Richard, Preston, Madison and Alison.

The Butler family enjoyed traveling exploring the US, many National Parks. Some of Wiley’s favorite sites were: Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, California Highway 1. The family also traveled overseas and since Mona is Swedish several trips were made to visit family in Sweden.

Wiley was a serious student of the Bible. He supported radio Bible programs which he listened to routinely: Thru the Bible and Grace to You to name a few. And, for many years, he taught Sr. Bible classes both in Pomona and Norco. Wiley’s relationship with the Lord began when he was 16 years old when he accepted the Lord as his personal Savior. He attended church with his Uncle Shorty and Aunt Louis, who operated a Bible book store in Danville.

The biggest turning point in Wiley’s daily walk with the Lord, though, was when his Aunt Louis visited him in California and presented him with his first Scholfield study Bible. The new type of intense study along with attending Thursday night bible study in downtown Los Angeles, at Church of the Open Door, became the pinnacle of spiritual growth, in the early 60’s.

In 1968, Wiley discovered a local Table Tennis Club, which became a regular activity for the whole family. The annual Nationals in Las Vegas Nevada and World senior tournaments in Norway, Canada and Hawaii were some of the locations for Ping-Pong competitions.

In later years, after retiring and children married off, Wiley added golf to his schedule. He enjoyed the local 9 holes in his neighborhood with a couple of competitive partners.

Wiley was so blessed with good health for the majority of his long life, but eventually his almost 90 year old heart slowed him down. This was a big change for both Wiley and Mona, but what never changed was his unwavering love for his favorite radio Bible programs.

With his family by his side, Wiley Morton Butler, husband father and grandfather, went home to be with the Lord on Palm Sunday, April 13, 2014.