Mr. Butler was born Thursday, October 17, 1946, in West Point, Georgia, the son of the late Eunice Spraggins and Lamar Preston Butler. He retired from West Point Stevens after 40 years of service. He also worked for Johnson Industries for 15 years. Mr. Butler was a member of Reeds Chapel Baptist Church and was a Deacon there. He loved hunting and fishing with his brother and son-in-law.

Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Marilyn George Butler; his daughters, Lisa Taylor and Tammy (David) Estes all of West Point; his sister Shelia Power of West Point; his brothers, Phillip Butler of Valley and Kenneth (Glenda) Butler of West Point; and his three grandchildren, Brittany Taylor, Cody Taylor and Lindsay Estes. Mr. Butler was predeceased by his son, James Preston Butler and his brother Frank Butler.