Brigadier General Terry Lee Butler (USAF, Retired), age 71, passed away in The Villages, Florida on January 25th, 2018 after a long illness. A funeral service will be held at Arlington National Cemetery, in Washington DC, at a later date.
He was born January 22, 1947 to Charles A. and Margaret Daniel Butler in Charleston, WV. He lived in Rand, WV until graduating from DuPont High School in 1964 and then Huntington, WV where he lived until moving to Alexandria, VA. He was a graduate of Marshall University receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1976 and his Master of Arts degree in Radio/TV Journalism in 1978.
In 1968, he started his military career, enlisting in the Army as a private. He attained his first piloting dream when he completed US Army Rotary Wing training at Fort Rucker, AL. He was assigned to the 196th Assault Support Helicopter Company and subsequently the 243rd Assault Support Helicopter Company, Republic of Vietnam in 1970-1971 and was the aircraft commander of the CH-47 Chinook as a Warrant Officer. After serving his tour in Vietnam, he joined the 146th Medical Evacuation Company, WV Army National Guard in 1972. Terry was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in 1974, making the commitment to continue his training. He earned his Air Force pilot wings at Vance AFB, OK in 1975. He returned to the WV Air National Guard, 130th Airlift Squadron until 1986 when he was promoted to Major, and based at the Air National Guard Readiness Center, Andrews Air Force Base, MD. In August 1990-1991 he served the 1630th Provisional Wing, Operation Desert Shield/Storm/Southwest Asia. After Desert Storm, he returned to Andrews AFB, Headquarters, Air National Guard where he remained until February, 2000. He was promoted to Lt Colonel in 1994 and Colonel in 2000. He served as Air National Guard adviser to Air Force Programs, Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, DC from February, 2000 to November, 2004. He received the honor of being promoted to Brigadier General in May, 2004. He returned to the Headquarters of the West Virginia Air National Guard as Chief of Staff in November, 2004 where he served until his retirement from the military. His distinctions were: Meritorious Service Medal with 2 devices; Air Medal with 14 devices; Aerial Achievement Medal; Air Force Commendation; Medal with 1 device; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor with 3 devices; Air Force Organizational Excellence Award; Combat Readiness Medal with 4 devices; Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal with 1 device; Vietnam Service Medal with 3 devices; Southwest Asia Service Medal with 2 devices; Humanitarian Service Medal; Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with 7 devices; Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 2 devices; Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon; Army Service Ribbon; Air Force Training Ribbon; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia); Kuwait Liberation Medal (Government of Kuwait).
In addition to his military career, Terry pursued his love of flying and his love of computers. Terry also flew for Pan Am Airlines. He had his Air Transport Pilot rating with the Federal Aviation Administration. He was always on the cutting edge of technology, starting with his first Apple computer in the late 1980’s. He maintained a vast knowledge of computers, which included building and writing software programs. He was always one of the first to own new technology and to master it. Terry loved music. He was in the WV All State Chorus in high school and had a beautiful voice. He played the piano, trumpet, baritone, and guitar. Terry was an avid sports enthusiast, played tennis and loved to run. He was passionate about Marshall University football and basketball. Terry was also a soccer referee for schools in the Washington, DC area.
After retirement from the military, he was a Program Manager for SAIC (Scientific Applications International Corporation) working with the Air Force IT Department, and then as a USAF Government Civilian Program Manager at the Pentagon until he was forced to retire in 2011 due to illness. His life’s dream of a retirement living aboard his boat, the Lazy Day with his wife, Susan, could not be realized. After living life to its fullest, working hard to attain his dreams, that dream was not realized because of illness, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy and ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). Terry and Susan divided their year between their homes in London, Ontario, Canada and The Villages, Florida; went on cruises in the Caribbean, including the Panama Canal, and were active socially as long as Terry was able.
Terry was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Aubrey and Margaret Ellen Daniel Butler. He is survived by his wife Susan of London, Ontario, and The Villages, FL; by his children Samantha Butler Hutchinson (Benjamin) of Huntington, WV; Alexandra Lee Butler of New York, NY; Tyler Vincent (Suzanne Crellin) of Ingersoll, Ontario and Brennan Vincent of London, Ontario; by siblings Richard W. Butler of Glenwood, WV and Jacksonville, FL; Marsha Butler Williams (Mark) of Huntington, WV; and CMSgt Charles Christopher Butler of Glenwood, WV; grandchildren Thomas, Miah, Scout, and Mary Ashworth, all of Huntington, WV; and Quinn Crellin-Vincent, of Ingersoll, Ontario.
Memorial donations may be made to the ALS Association. Arrangements entrusted with HIERS-BAXLEY Funeral & Cremation Life Event Center, 3975 Wedgewood Lane, The Villages, FL 32162. Sentiments may be left online at www.hiers-baxley.com.