David Merle Butler

EAST PALESTINE — David Merle Butler, 96, died early Thursday morning at the home of his daughter in East Palestine. He was affectionately known as Pap and The Puzzle Man.

Mr. Butler was born November 22, 1926 in East Liverpool to the late Thomas Cummins and Beulah Mae (Wilson) Butler. He grew up in East Liverpool where he attended school and was one of the oldest members of the Olde Guard at East Liverpool High School.

He married the late Jean Estella Thompson April 5, 1947 in East Liverpool and she preceded him in death June 7, 2009. They lived in East Liverpool until moving to North Lewisburg in 1983 and to Anadarko, Oklahoma in 1986. They then moved to East Palestine in 2002.

Mr. Butler was a World War II veteran. He joined the U. S. Navy March 5, 1945 and served with the SeaBee’s 96th NavalConstruction Battalion in the Philippines and China. He attained the rank of Carpenter’s Mate 3rd Class and received the Victory Metal, American Area Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal and Philippine Liberation Medal.

He worked at the Hall China Company and Potter’s Lumber Company before joining the Navy. After the war, he worked at Crucible Steel in Midland, Pa., as a millwright until the mill closed. He then worked for the State of Ohio and OCLC in Dublin before moving to Oklahoma where he began working for the Anadarko Public Schools, among other jobs. He finally retired from working when he returned to Ohio.

While a member of the Anadarko Lions Club, he was presented the Lions’ highest award, the Melvin Jones Fellow, “for dedicated humanitarian services” by the Lions Club International Foundation. He was a member and past president of the New Waterford Lions Club. He was a 32rd degree Mason and a lifetime member of the East Liverpool Masonic Lodge #681, F. & A.M. He had also been a volunteer firefighter with the Glenmoor Volunteer Fire Department.

He loved to work jigsaw puzzles and raised money for the East Palestine Fire Department, East Palestine Public Schools and other worthy causes in East Palestine with donations he received from the community for his completed puzzles.

He is survived by two daughters, Cynthia Jean Fletcher, of the home, and Loretta Gayle Church and son-in-law the Rev. Ronald Lee Church of McKees Rocks, Pa.; one son, David Leslie Butler of the home. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Michael Erin Fletcher and his wife, Heather Anne (Hoon) of East Palestine, Christine Louise (Fletcher) Westfall and her husband, Charles Frederick Westfall Jr., of Morgantown, W.Va., Matthew Aron Butler and his wife, Alice Caroline (Faraone) of Wilmington, Del., Christopher Alan Butler and his wife, Cyndi Diane (Thrailkill) of Madison, Ala., Elizabeth Anne (Church) Marcus and her husband, Matthew Kenneth Marcus of Pittsburgh, Pa.

He is also survived by seven great-grandchildren, Michael Erin Fletcher II, Kystin Sierra Westfall, Cassidy Rene Fletcher, Katelyn Michele Westfall, Evander Matthew Marcus, Samantha Lee Faraone and Maxwell Xavier Newsome, along with numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by five brothers, Roy Lincoln Bannon, Thomas Cummins Butler Jr., George Edward Butler, Harley Alfred Butler and William Earl Butler; one daughter-in-law, Barbara Rae (Kyle) Butler, and one grandson, Joel Dale Church II.

Calling hours will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, August 2 and the funeral service will be at noon Thursday, August 3, at the Linsley-Royal Funeral Home in East Palestine. Cremation will follow with Mr. Butler’s ashes to be buried next to those of his wife and grandson at Columbiana County Memorial Park in East Liverpool. There will be no graveside service.

www.linsley-royal.com

7/31/23