(02/25/13) Bill was adopted at 13 years old and was raised in the Shawno, Wisconsin area.
He joined the Marine Corp at 17 years old from 4-29-1963 to 5-1-1967 and was honorably discharged after serving 3 years in Vietnam. For his service he received a Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Bronze Star, Republic of Vietnam Campaign, Rifle Badge Medal-Marksman, and a Purple Heart. He joined the Air Force on 1-2-1968 and was honorably discharged on 1-31-1972.
He was an Air Force jet mechanic and also served as a Crew chief for Lear Jet serving five-Star general General Keefer. He received numerous certificates while he attended school in the Air Force.
While serving at Westover Air Force Base in Chicopee, MA, he had a friend who was a born again Christian by the name of Paul Todd. Paul attended the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Chicopee and persistently invited Bill to church. Eventually, Bill agreed to go and was gloriously saved in January 1969! His life was never the same as 2 Corinthians 5:17 became a reality in his life.
He surrendered to Gods calling to be an evangelist and went to Bible Baptist College in Springfield, MO from 1974 to 1978 and graduated with a 4.0 average. He loved the Lord Jesus Christ and he loved souls. He was a great soul winner, and he had a real servants heart. He loved serving and helping others even in his latter years when he became so ill.
He was a man of prayer and believed God for answers to his prayers. He knew whatever the answer was; it was Gods best for him. He loved his family and all his grandchildren and he wanted all his children and grandchildren to know they were loved unconditionally! He had a great God who loved him even when he failed and that is the way he loved his family. Being a man of prayer, he prayed for them daily He didnt put His God, Lord and Savior in a small box.
Bill preached the Gospel for over 30 years and loved winning souls for Jesus! He went up and down the East Coast going to small churches trying to bless and encourage others in the Lord! He always came back home blessed by them.
Bill had a great love for the Hispanic people! He went on three missions trips to Honduras and preached the Gospel and saw many souls come to Christ! And he made sure all the Glory went to the Lord Jesus! He also had the privilege of going to China with Pastor Thomas Michael from Boston to hand out thousands of Bible tracts and mini Bibles there as well. Souls were saved including a police officer. Again! God received all the glory!
Bill spent the last year and half of life as a member of the Knotty Oak Baptist Church. Though his health continued to decline, he remained very active in the church and continued preaching throughout New England. He was a tremendous blessing to all that knew him and inspired many to love and serve God more passionately. He tried to live Galatians 2:20 and trim his Lamp so he could Shine for the Lord and to World!
He is survived by the Love of his Life, his companion, friend, help-meet, and wife of 34 years, Judith M. Butler and his children; Pauline F. Wallenfang of Green Bay, WI, Tammy R. Butler of Appleton, WI, Misty D. Jordan of Greenbay, WI, and William B. Butler of Charlotte, NC, his step children; Kenneth St. Peter of Vassalboro, ME, and Christina Barrows of Thomaston, ME, his brothers; Delbert Bowman of Milwaukee, WI, and Jerry Butler of Oneida, WI, thirteen grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Funeral services are under the direction of Gorton-Menard Funeral Home and Crematory, and will be held on Friday, March 1, 2013 at 11:00 am at the Knotty Oak Baptist Church, 11 Knotty Oak Road Coventry, RI. Calling hours will be held on Thursday, February 28, at Knotty Oak Baptist Church from 3:00 - 7:00 pm. Burial will be at the RI Veterans Cemetery in Exeter, RI.
For online condolences please visit www.gortonmenardfuneralhome.com.
↧