Former resident, Veteran of the Year in 2009
Charlie Butler. (Courtesy photo)
Charles G. Butler, 89, of Valrico, Fla., formerly of South Shaker Road, died Monday, Jan. 26, 2015, at LifePath Hospice Care Center, Sun City Center, in Ruskin, Fla.
He was the son of C. Gordon and Kathleen (Pray) Butler, the oldest of three children born in Jamaica Queens, N.Y. “PopPop,” as family and friends called him, was predeceased by his wife Evelyn (Prenzlow), who passed away in February 2010 and his brother Robert of Syosset, N.Y.
Charlie served in the U. S. Army, 86th Infantry Division, in World War II, during which he received a Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and American Campaign and World War II Victory medals. He graduated from St. John’s College in Brooklyn, N.Y., and received his master’s degree and CPA there, too. He taught dance with the Arthur Murray Dance Studio in New York to earn extra money, and he worked at Schrafft’s restaurant in Manhattan, where he met his future wife Evelyn. Married in 1951, he was active in Junior Achievers of Maryland and with Holy Trinity church and school in Glen Burnie, Md. In the late 1960s through the mid-1970s, Charlie was instrumental in establishing the first computer systems at the Boston Police Department and Boston University. After retiring from BU, Charlie did tax preparation for H&R Block and served as Harvard’s veterans agent in 2006. He took much pride in helping veterans and their families receive their much-needed and well-deserved services. He was acknowledged by the town of Harvard and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as “Veteran of the Year” on Oct. 11, 2009.
PopPop leaves his two children, Janet (Maury) Carlin of Milford and Kenneth (Syndi) of Valrico, Fla., with whom he lived for the past four-and-a-half years, and six grandchildren: Marsha (Nigel) Birtwistle of Hopkinton; Michael (Joy) Carlin of Shrewsbury; Matthew (Leah) Carlin of Milford; Logan (Samantha) Butler, Gerrit Butler, and Margo Butler of Valrico, Fla.; and his great-granddaughters Trinity Birtwistle and Brooke Birtwistle of Hopkinton. Charlie is also survived by his sister Ellen Quinn of Clermont, Fla., and 10 nieces and nephews. During his time in Valrico, PopPop made many new friends, especially Mary, his morning coffee friends, and the wonderful crew at Dunkin’ Donuts. He also enjoyed the company of many parishioners at Bell Shoals Church of Christ.
Services will be held Feb. 7, at the Stowers Funeral Home, 401 West Brandon Boulevard., Brandon, Fla. Visitation is at 2 p.m., services at 3 p.m. Graveside services and burial will take place at a later time in Groton, Mass., where he will be buried next to his wife of 60 years.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Foundation Christian Academy-Vision 20/20 (Building Fund), 3955 Lithia Pinecrest Rd., Valrico, FL 33596.
