Obituary for William D. Butts
William D. “Bill” Butts, 87, of Chambersburg, PA, died Saturday morning, April 16, 2022 at the Shook Home. Born November 29, 1934 in Carlisle, PA, he was the son of the late Harley D. and Marie Elizabeth Marsh Butts. Bill was a 1952 graduate of the Shippensburg High School and also attended Shippensburg University.
From 1955 to 1957 Bill was employed at Letterkenny Army Depot, where he served as a Clerk Typist in the Security Division. From 1957 to 1959 Bill served in the US Army while stationed in Germany for 16 months. In 1959 he returned to Letterkenny’s Finance and Accounting Division, where he served as an Accounting Technician, Budget Analyst, and Program Analyst. From 1979 to 1989 he was employed by Headquarters, US Army Depot System Command, Letterkenny, as a Management Analyst. He retired from DESCOM at Letterkenny on December 29, 1989 with over 33 years of federal service.
He served a Democratic Committeeman for the 5th Ward, 1st Precinct; Chairman, Franklin County Democratic Committee; member of the State Democratic Committee and South Central Pennsylvania Democratic Caucus; Past President and Board Member of the Kiwanis Club of Chambersburg; Past President of Chambersburg Community Centers, Inc; Vice President of Franklin County Heritage; Vice President of National Association of Retired Federal Employees Chapter 1063; Past Division Chairman Chambersburg United Way; graduate of the Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program; served on the Citizens Advisory Committee of the Public Opinion; and was an American Red Cross CPR and First Aid Instructor.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Chambersburg where he served on various church committees. He was also a member of the Memorial Fountain Restoration Committee; member of the Kittochtinny Historical Society; member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1599; member of Burt J. Asper Post 46 American Legion; member of Conococheague Institute of Cultural Heritage; member of the American Association of Retired Persons; member Legislative Committee Pennsylvania Federation of NARFE Chapters; member of State Association of Democratic County Chairs; served on the board of Franklin County Community Forum; member of the Institute for Retired Persons; and a member of Norland AARP Chapter 3261; represented the Fifth Ward on the Chambersburg Borough Sidewalk and Curb Compliance Committee, and the Parking, Traffic, and Street Light Committee; and served on the Board of the Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council. Bill was also a member of the Veteran’s Club at First Church.
He served on the Board of Trustees of First United Methodist Church; was elected Democratic Jury Commissioner for Franklin County; and also was elected Democratic Judge of Election for the 5th Ward, 1st Precinct of Chambersburg.
He married Mary Elizabeth Baker of Boonsboro, MD on April 13, 1960 and they celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary together at the Shook Home last week. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Leah Mitchell.
The date and time for a memorial service to celebrated Bill’s life will be announced later.
Contributions in his memory may be made to First United Methodist Church, 225 South Second Street or to The Salvation Army, 159 Lincoln Way West, both in Chambersburg, PA 17201.
From 1955 to 1957 Bill was employed at Letterkenny Army Depot, where he served as a Clerk Typist in the Security Division. From 1957 to 1959 Bill served in the US Army while stationed in Germany for 16 months. In 1959 he returned to Letterkenny’s Finance and Accounting Division, where he served as an Accounting Technician, Budget Analyst, and Program Analyst. From 1979 to 1989 he was employed by Headquarters, US Army Depot System Command, Letterkenny, as a Management Analyst. He retired from DESCOM at Letterkenny on December 29, 1989 with over 33 years of federal service.
He served a Democratic Committeeman for the 5th Ward, 1st Precinct; Chairman, Franklin County Democratic Committee; member of the State Democratic Committee and South Central Pennsylvania Democratic Caucus; Past President and Board Member of the Kiwanis Club of Chambersburg; Past President of Chambersburg Community Centers, Inc; Vice President of Franklin County Heritage; Vice President of National Association of Retired Federal Employees Chapter 1063; Past Division Chairman Chambersburg United Way; graduate of the Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program; served on the Citizens Advisory Committee of the Public Opinion; and was an American Red Cross CPR and First Aid Instructor.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Chambersburg where he served on various church committees. He was also a member of the Memorial Fountain Restoration Committee; member of the Kittochtinny Historical Society; member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1599; member of Burt J. Asper Post 46 American Legion; member of Conococheague Institute of Cultural Heritage; member of the American Association of Retired Persons; member Legislative Committee Pennsylvania Federation of NARFE Chapters; member of State Association of Democratic County Chairs; served on the board of Franklin County Community Forum; member of the Institute for Retired Persons; and a member of Norland AARP Chapter 3261; represented the Fifth Ward on the Chambersburg Borough Sidewalk and Curb Compliance Committee, and the Parking, Traffic, and Street Light Committee; and served on the Board of the Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council. Bill was also a member of the Veteran’s Club at First Church.
He served on the Board of Trustees of First United Methodist Church; was elected Democratic Jury Commissioner for Franklin County; and also was elected Democratic Judge of Election for the 5th Ward, 1st Precinct of Chambersburg.
He married Mary Elizabeth Baker of Boonsboro, MD on April 13, 1960 and they celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary together at the Shook Home last week. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Leah Mitchell.
The date and time for a memorial service to celebrated Bill’s life will be announced later.
Contributions in his memory may be made to First United Methodist Church, 225 South Second Street or to The Salvation Army, 159 Lincoln Way West, both in Chambersburg, PA 17201.