Dale J Butterworth

Cumberland - Dale Jared Butterworth, retired teacher and resident of Cumberland for 66 years, died at the age of 95 on Thursday, February 26th, 2015. He was the loving husband of Florence (Atwood) Butterworth. Before retirement, he was a teacher at Westbrook High School and was an expert cabinetmaker.

Born July 1, 1919 in Boston, he was the son of the late Albert Jared Butterworth and M. Elizabeth Butterworth. Dale grew up on a farm in Franklin, Mass., 25 miles southwest of Boston. He graduated from Franklin High School in 1937 and the University of Maine at Orono in 1941. He was a proud member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and the university cross country team. He earned a commission as a member of the Army ROTC program while at UMO and was enrolled in the Air Corps pilot training program soon after graduation.

While at Orono, he met Florence C. Atwood at a dance at Ballantine Hall. Florence knew that night that this was the man she was going to marry and indeed Dale married his wife Florence C. Atwood on May 30th, 1942 at the Elijah Kellogg Church in Harpswell, Maine. They celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary last year.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Butterworth is survived by his five children, eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. These include: his daughter Susan Swanson and her son Aaron McPike and his wife Wendy, and their children Joshua and Emily, and her son Toby Swanson; also, his daughter Sally Wilkinson and her sons Matthew Soule and his wife Jennifer, and their children Kyle and Audrey; Derek Soule and his wife Cindy, and their children Calvin, Riley and Siara, and her son Phil Soule; also, his daughter Jane and her son Peter Herbst and his wife Kate, and their children Abigail and William, also, Nathaniel Herbst and his wife Gretchen and their children Penelope and Vivienne, and Ben Herbst and his fiancée Linsey Matovich; and his son James Butterworth and his partner Leeann Costello, and his daughter Linda Butterworth.

After his marriage Dale and Florence journeyed by train to Boston, New York and then on to Albany, Georgia where Dale began basic training for flight school. During the War he served both as a pilot and flight instructor primarily flying B-29 bombers and trained both American and British pilots as a major in the Army Air Corps.

After the War, Dale and Florence bought a farm in Cumberland Center, Maine in 1949. During this time he worked at various jobs as a craftsman building his skill, knowledge and reputation. The love of sharing his knowledge and his passion for woodworking lead him to become a teacher of cabinetmaking at Westbrook High School. While teaching, Dale also owned and operated the Kings Highway Antique shop.

Dale had a very long and active retirement. Former students still visited him right up to his final years to share some of their work and projects. He continued to make cabinets and restore antiques. Dale loved to make a deal and was constantly buying and selling antiques, going to auctions, tool shows, flea markets and yard sales. He restored and gave each of his children and grandchildren antique tool chests. Dale was a master craftsmen and always insisted on doing things the ‘old-fashion’ way and shunned power tools. His wrists and hands had been strengthened by decades of work in his shop and his handshake made most men wince well into his 90’s.

Throughout retirement Dale and Floss enjoyed taking bus trips including journeying to Washington D.C., Williamsburg, Cape Cod, Nantucket, the Amish Country and Mount Vernon. They also enjoyed camping and at the age of 70 he learned to canoe so he could accompany one of his grandchildren, Peter, on a Boy Scout trip down the Allagash River. At the age of 87 he co-authored a book with his friend, Tom Whalen, “From Logs to Lumber”. The book was a history of loggers and rule making in New England.

In retirement, Dale accumulated a large collection of antiques and tools. He specialized in 18th and 19th century Maine planes and logging tools. He spent much of his life putting the collection together. Instead of selling it for profit he wanted the people of Maine to enjoy it. With that in mind, he donated his Maine logging collection, including camp photos, letters, camp songs, memoirs and logging tools to The Maine State Museum in Augusta for everyone to enjoy.

A long time New England Patriot fan, he journeyed to Gillette Stadium with his grandson Phil to watch the Patriots live for the first time at the age of 90.

For those who knew Dale well, the overwhelming remembrance of Dale was that he loved life, he loved people and people loved him. It was rare to leave after a visit without having chuckle from a good joke shared or having learned a life lesson from one of his many stories. Dale was an incredible story teller. He had a unique ability to charm strangers and make friends wherever he went. Dale’s smile lit up any room and people gravitated to him. Everyone knew him at the bank, at the corner store or one of his favorite restaurants or diners.

Dale was always busy completing his own projects, helping a friend or family member, giving wise advice, spending hours on the phone with friends, hunting down bargains at yard sales with his daughters and granddaughters, playing a good game of cribbage with a friend or grandchild and most of all, making people laugh.

Dale J. Butterworth was an incredible man who exemplified the very best in humankind. He had an extensive positive influence on family and friends throughout his life and his influence is a testament that Dale J. Butterworth will live on in all those he touched. Though his death leaves heartache in his love ones that no one can heal, the memories and lessons of how to treat others will endure in the many people who had the honor to know him.

A memorial service is planned for March 21, 2015 at 11:00 am at the Tuttle Road United Methodist Church, 52 Tuttle Road, Cumberland, Maine. Please visit www.lindquistfuneralhome.com to view a video collage of Dale’s life and to share condolences, memories and tributes with his family.

Those who wish to make a donation in Dale's honor are asked to consider making a contribution to the Maine State Museum to benefit the Dale J. Butterworth collection at 83 State House Station Augusta, ME. 04331.