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Robert Patrick "Bob"
Butler

April 4, 1923 – November 9, 2018

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Obituary for Robert Patrick "Bob" Butler

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In 1945, the war in Europe had ended, a long convoy of US Army vehicles was rolling through the German countryside. Atop one of the half-tracks was a young GI, Bob Butler, basking in the sunshine, listening to Glenn Miller on the radio. Suddenly, a shot rang out. From the midst of a field, a Nazi “diehard” had jumped up, his rifle aimed at Butler -- but an American sniper fired first.

Bob Butler’s life was spared that day – thankfully, for he would live many more years as beloved son, husband, father, grandfather and friend.

James Robert Patrick “Bob” Butler, 95, a long-time resident of Falling Waters, passed away peacefully on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018 in Methodist Hospital in San Antonio, Texas.

Born April 4, 1923 in Sparrows Point, Maryland, he was the son of the late Patrick and Ann (Maley) Butler. Because of his father’s work as a Railway Mail Clerk, Bob spent much of his childhood in Philadelphia and New York City before graduating from Sparrows Point High School in 1940.

After attending Strayer Business College for one year and working for the war effort at Glenn L. Martin in Baltimore, he enlisted in the US Army on March 17, 1942. During World War II, he served as a radio operator in the Eighth Armored Division in Europe with Patton’s Third Army and Simpson’s Ninth Army. When the war ended, he was in the Harz Mountains of Germany.

In the spring of 1945, while stationed in Czechoslovakia, Butler met the love of his life, the beautiful young Zdenka “Jean” Roskovcova. After returning to the states, Bob would correspond with Jean for the next three years, until she left her homeland to marry Bob on Nov. 17, 1948 in St. Martin Church, Washington, DC.

After the war, Butler studied at the University of New Hampshire; Norwich University; City College of New York; Loyola College of Baltimore, University of Maryland and the University of Virginia at Charlottesville. He majored in accounting, never graduated, and was fond of saying: “I am not necessarily well-educated, but I am very well-travelled.”

From 1946 to 1948, he was employed by Bethlehem Steel in the Plate and Wire Mill in Sparrows Point. In 1948, he joined the US Postal Service, working for 15 years as a Railway Mail Clerk on the “New York & Wash.”

In 1964, he became a Postal Service Officer, responsible for the distribution and dispatch of all mails in the Shenandoah Valley from Frederick, Maryland to Petersburg, WV. In 1972, he was appointed Rail Officer responsible for all mails dispatched and received in the Eastern Region of the United States. In 1978, he became Director of Support, responsible for finance and personnel for the Martinsburg Sectional Center, where he served until his retirement in 1985.

Bob Butler enjoyed life. He was a natural born storyteller – but also an attentive, interested listener, who could make anyone feel like a million bucks.
He was a gifted singer, who loved to bless others with a song. He sang in his church choir–and, he also sang to his wife at their Golden Anniversary party; he sang a special toast for his daughter Jane on her wedding day; and, he sang for his son and his bride, too; he sang for the “deli ladies” at Walmart; for many a nurse and caregiver, and even for a surgeon as he was about to undergo surgery.

Bob loved sports. As a boy, he saw Babe Ruth play baseball. He and his Dad attended many boxing bouts – and, it was a thrill to hear him relive those bouts years later. A lifelong fan of the Baltimore Colts, he was there for “the Greatest Game Ever Played” when the Colts beat the Giants in 1958 in New York City. As a young man, Bob played semi-professional football. He also enjoyed playing touch football with his children and grandchildren. He liked boating and water skiing; began running at age 66; and, played tennis well into his 80s.

In later years, he became an avid nap taker.

Mr. Butler attended St. Joseph Catholic Church in Martinsburg and was a member of the Knights of Columbus.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 66 years, Jean Butler. He is survived by son Patrick Butler and wife Linda of Kearneysville; daughters, Ann Butler and husband Larry Zellers of Burgettstown, Pa, and Jane Zimmel and husband Alan of Pipe Creek, Texas; and, cherished grandsons Andrew, Jesse and Ryan Zimmel.

Family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18 at Brown Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Monday, November 19, 2018 at 11:00AM at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Shepherdstown, WV with The Rev. T. Mathew Rowgh officiating. Interment prayers will be said in Rosedale Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to your local Hospice.

To send flowers to the family of Robert Patrick "Bob" Butler, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.

Visitation

When Sunday, November 18th, 2018 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Location
Brown Funeral Home
Address
327 West King Street
Martinsburg, WV 25401

Service Information

When
Monday, November 19th, 2018 11:00am
Location
St. Agnes Catholic Church, Shepherdstown, WV
Address
106 S. Duke St.
Shepherdstown, WV 25443

Interment Information

Location
Rosedale Cemetery
Address
917 Cemetery Rd.
Martinsburg, WV 25404
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