Howard Young Butler, 71, of Georgetown, Texas, passed away on Saturday, October 13, 2012 in Round Rock, Texas. Howard was born June 15, 1941, in Odessa, Texas, to Howard and Christine Price Butler. He graduated from Odessa High School in 1959 and received his degree in Government from the University of Texas in 1963. After teaching school in El Paso, Texas, for five years, Howard began his long and successful career with the Veterans Administration in Waco, Texas. He retired as a Rating Board Specialist with the VA in Denver, Colorado.
Howard was a proud member of the Texas Exes Association, and the consummate Longhorns fan. His wardrobe included almost every item available from the UT Co-op.
To know Howard was to understand the true meaning of grace. Challenged by life-long muscular dystrophy, he accepted his limitations with good humor and adaptation. Howard learned to balance activity with rest to enjoy life to the fullest. He was an inspiration for everyone, especially those who are also disabled.
Howard is survived by his sister, Linda and husband Don Branscum of Streetman, Texas; brother, Paton of Kyle; nephew, Will Butler; nieces Angie and Aimee Butler and Sarah and Laura Brew; and his loving companion, Reeta Wadzeck, with whom he shared the joys of music and opera.
The family would like to thank the entire staff at Scott and White Hospital Round Rock for their genuine care and concern.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, October 17, 2012 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home in Georgetown, Texas. Burial will be private with a memorial to be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Muscular Dystrophy Association would be appreciated.
Arrangements by Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home, 2900 Williams Drive, Georgetown, Texas 78628 (512)863-2564.
I had several classes with Howard through all our school years, elementary, Crockett Jr Hi and OHS. I always thought very highly of him. He was a very gracious person.
I didn't really know Howard very well in high school because I was a year ahead of him. I came to know him much better when he and his loving companion moved to Sun City. He was a kind, gentle and sociable person who never talked about his disability. I did not realize that he had MD, but knew that he had a skeletal problem of some kind as he used a wheelchair when he needed to walk more than just a short distance. However, he never talked about his medical problems.
We went on a Caribbean cruise three years ago. The bus that brought us back to Austin had a problem with the wheelchair lift. Howard handled it so well as he sat in the chair while the bus driver struggled with the lift, never said a word, a real class act.
Joyce Gail McCarty (Greenlee) (1959)
I had several classes with Howard through all our school years, elementary, Crockett Jr Hi and OHS. I always thought very highly of him. He was a very gracious person.
Sheridan Pettit (Moore)
I didn't really know Howard very well in high school because I was a year ahead of him. I came to know him much better when he and his loving companion moved to Sun City. He was a kind, gentle and sociable person who never talked about his disability. I did not realize that he had MD, but knew that he had a skeletal problem of some kind as he used a wheelchair when he needed to walk more than just a short distance. However, he never talked about his medical problems.
We went on a Caribbean cruise three years ago. The bus that brought us back to Austin had a problem with the wheelchair lift. Howard handled it so well as he sat in the chair while the bus driver struggled with the lift, never said a word, a real class act.