William Lester Butts of Franklin died in his sleep on Jan. 31, 2022, at the age of 90.
Born on Dec. 7, 1931, in rural Ohio, Billy was the youngest child of Mamie Olive (Minor) Butts and Edward Donald Butts Sr. He grew up fishing and hunting and was a devoted newspaper carrier for many years. At Reynoldsburg High School Bill played the baritone horn and loved sports, running track, catching for the baseball team, and playing both sides of the ball in football. He still holds the school record in basketball – for fouling out in just 1 minute and 43 seconds when sent in to teach a guy a lesson. He became the first of his family to go to college when awarded a football scholarship to Wilmington College.
While at Wilmington he became passionate about science and scholarship, and a young woman, Babs Baily. They married in 1954 and started a family. While he worked toward a doctorate from The Ohio State University, he taught entomology at Purdue University to an avid group of young men who still remember him fondly as a role model.
In 1966 he became a professor at SUNY Oneonta, and he and Babs moved the three kids, two cats, and a dog to a big old house just outside Franklin. He taught entomology, human physiology, and ornithology until his retirement. He conducted research at the biological field station in Cooperstown, studying the mosquito populations of the area. His insect collection is part of the Cornell University Insect collection.
Dedicated to his community, Bill played for the Franklin Methodist Church Crusaders softball team, entered many a pie-eating contest, guided the Methodist Youth Fellowship for several years, introduced 4-H youth to the joys of insects, and square danced every chance he got. He served on the school board and BOCES, as he strongly believed that education was essential to good citizenship. He never stopped learning, reading, and writing. His letters and essays were often published in the local papers and, after publishing his first poem in sixth grade he wrote poems to express his view of the world until he could no longer hold a pen.
A lifelong environmentalist, Bill enjoyed the simple things in life – birding at the break of dawn, road trips with close family friends, singing around a campfire, bright winter nights filled with stars, and hunting with his sons and his friends. His devotion to Babs, his children, and his adored grandchildren gave him joy and a deep sense of purpose. Bill always had a song, story, or joke to share and was ever willing to lend a helping hand to a neighbor, a friend, or a stranger.
Bill is preceded in death by his parents, sister and brother, and his wife, Barbara Baily Butts. He is survived by his children Nicholas Edward (Ned) Butts and Ann Marie Lindley, Susan Lee (Butts) Dougherty and Rod Dougherty, Thomas William Butts and Stacy Rhubin; his grandchildren Nick Butts, Sarah Burton (Chris Hewatt), Emma Burton, Calvin Butts, Corey Schmitz (Amy Brower) and a great-grandson.
The family extends deep thanks to the Fox Nursing Home and Fox Hospital staff of 2 North who cared for him and supported him with skill and kindness.
In memory of Bill, Dr. Butts, Pa, do what you can for your local school and consider a donation to the SUNY College at Oneonta Foundation, for the Biological Field Station Fund for BFS Internships; Division of College Advancement, 308 Netzer Administration Bldg., 108 Ravine Parkway, Oneonta, NY 13820. Gifts can also be made online at www.oneonta.edu/give.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Arrangements are by the Kenneth L. Bennett Funeral Home of Franklin.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.bennettfh.com for the Butts family.
