Denise Michele Butler

Denise Michele (Hall) Butler, age 64, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by loved ones, after a brave and hard-fought battle with cancer on Friday, June 19th, 2026. Denise was born in Mountain View, California, on September 27th, 1961, to the late Tom and Jean Hall. Born into a Navy family, Denise, along with her brother Brian, moved with their parents to various locations due to her father's career as a U.S. naval aviator, which include Kingstown, Rhode Island; Coronado, California; Bangkok, Thailand; and finally, Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Denise graduated from Princess Anne High School in 1979, followed by Old Dominion University in 1983. After college, Denise moved to Richmond, VA to take a job at the Richmond International Airport as a travel agent where she lived for three years. She then moved back home to Virginia Beach and began working at her father’s business, Hall’s Used Appliances which later became Hall’s Maytag. In 1987, while flying to Oakland, California to attend a Grateful Dead concert, she met a fellow “deadhead” going to the same show who would not stop talking to her on the plane. That man, David Butler, turned out to be the love of her life. They later married in Virginia Beach on October 21st, 1989, because in that year’s calendar, it was marked as the “sweetest day”.

Denise found her passion in life when she became a devoted mother to her two children, Andrew and Amy. She inspired her children to see the beauty, joy, and fun that life has to offer by continually encouraging sports and extracurricular activities such as Boy Scouts and piano lessons. She enjoyed hobbies such as going to concerts, making cassette tapes, scrapbooking, traveling, card games, and most importantly, spending time with her friends and family. Denise will be remembered by her zest for life, quirky sense of humor, endless positivity, and her exquisite ability to plan a fun trip or outing.

Denise is survived by her husband of 36 years, David Butler; two children: Andrew Butler (spouse Mary) and Amy Butler, one grandchild on the way (whose gender is currently only known by Denise); and brother, Brian (spouse Carol).

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 8th, from 5-7 pm at Rosewood-Kellum Funeral Home at 601 N. Witchduck Road, Virginia Beach, VA. The Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, July 9th from 2-3 pm at Thalia Lynn Baptist Church, 4392 Virginia Beach Boulevard, Virginia Beach, VA.