More detail on this person: Francis Wayne
Butler, age 76, Commander, U.S. Navy Retired,
passed away at home Friday, July 15, 2016.
He was born May 7, 1940 in Georgetown, South
Carolina to William Loyce and Bertie Lee Butler.
He was "Wayne" to his family and "Frank" to his
friends.
Frank grew up in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina,
before graduating from the US Naval Academy in
1963. After serving briefly on Navy destroyers, he
applied for flight school and earned his wings as
a Navy pilot in 1967. He served three tours in
Southeast Asia including a tour in Viet Nam as a
pilot with Helicopter Attack Squadron Three where
he flew 650 armed combat missions, earning
numerous decorations including the Distinguished
Flying Cross, 27 Strike Flight Air medals, and two
Navy Commendations for Valor. In a later tour, as
part of the initial cadre for Operation End Sweep
he piloted the first flight into Haiphong, North
Viet Nam on the days immediately following the end
of the Viet Nam war. Frank served in a total of 14
operational and senior leadership positions and
retired from the Navy after a total of 31 years.
He was fond of saying that the Navy never felt
like a job because he loved serving his country.
Frank and Maggie retired to Bentonville, Arkansas,
in 1989. His love for the area made it home.
During his years in Arkansas he became an avid
Rotarian, and was involved with the Ozark Society.
A lifelong bird hunter and outdoorsman, Frank
served many years on the committee for Benton
County Quail and spent countless days in the
woods and fields with his beloved Brittany
Spaniels.
Frank was preceded in death his parents.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Maggie
Butler; his brother, Steven Butler (and his wife,
Becky) of Fayetteville, Georgia; and his sister,
Carol Foy (and her husband, Louis) of
Pollocksville, North Carolina.
Visitation will be held at Stockdale-Moody Funeral
Services in Rogers on Tuesday, July 19, 2016 from
6:00-8:00 p.m., Rosary at 7:30.
The Funeral will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday,
July 20, 2016 at St. Stephens in Bentonville.
Burial services will be at Mt. Pleasant Memorial
Gardens in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina Date is
TBD.
Arrangements have been entrusted to
Stockdale-Moody Funeral Services of Rogers.
Burial:
Mount Pleasant Memorial Gardens
Mount Pleasant
Charleston County
South Carolina, USA
This information was last updated 07/22/2016
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Date posted on this site: 03/11/2023
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