William James Butler died on Friday, May 1, 2015 under the care of Hospice Savannah. He was born May 3, 1929 in Hartford, CT and lived in Wethersfield, CT until he moved to The Landings, Skidaway Island, Savannah, GA in the spring of 1997. He was preceded in death by his first wife of 45 years, Priscilla Boyd Sprague Butler, and his parents George Frederick (Fred) Butler and Marie Eglantine (Peg) Bouchard Butler. Surviving are his loving wife, Anita Winslow Coleman Butler of Savannah, GA, his brother Robert Bruce Butler of Rocky Hill, CT, his three daughters, April Eileen Butler Staley (Kenneth) of Tolland, CT, Pamela Jean Butler of Wethersfield, CT, Kimberly Anne Butler Damaskos (Yiannis) of Manchester Village, VT, and son Frederick David Butler of Wethersfield, CT, and three grandsons, Andrew and William Damaskos and Jeffrey Peghiny, his step-children Jewel Fox, Laconia, NH, Kenneth Brands, Clarksville, TN, Jeffrey Brands (Jennifer) of Cabot, PA, and Gregory Brands (Sandra) of Savannah, GA, and step-grandchildren Erika, Kirk, Sarah, Nicole, Coleman, Natalie, Tyler, and Amanda, and step-great-grandchildren Elle, Ronan, Brody, and Makayla. Bill was admired and loved by his large and extended family. Mr. Butler served in the National Guard, being honorably discharged June 25, 1950. Bill graduated from Trinity College, CT and University of CT School of Law in 1956. He was admitted to the State of CT Bar July 31, 1956 and the US District Court of CT 1966. After retirement in 1996 he and his wife Priscilla built a home in the Deer Creek section at The Landings on Skidaway Island, GA.
William James Butler and Harold Gersten became law partners in 1978 in a firm called Butler and Gersten. They remained a two-person firm until 1984 when Martin P. Gold joined the firm. The firm expanded to six lawyers in 1989 when Harold passed away and the firm subsequently became Butler Norris & Gold. The firm has grown and is still in the same location today practicing at 254 Prospect Avenue, Hartford, CT. Bill was Wethersfield, CT's town attorney for several years. Bill enjoyed his Manchester Village, VT home with his family each summer. He was active in the Prison Ministry for many years, a Mason, Cursillo, enjoyed travelling, and an avid reader of history. He was a member of St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Skidaway Island, Savannah, GA and served as the Church Historiographer for a period of time. In lieu of flowers, the family requests remembrances to: The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society; Hospice Savannah, 1352 Eisenhower Drive, PO Box 13190, Savannah, GA 31406; or Trinity Episcopal Church, 300 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT 06109. Thank you for whatever your choice may be. A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, May 16, 10:00AM at Dillon-Baxter Funeral Home, 1276 Berlin Turnpike, Wethersfield, CT with The Rev. John A. Rogers, Jr. officiating. Visiting hours will be prior to the service 8:30 -10AM at the funeral home. A second memorial service was held at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Savannah, GA. At a later date, the family will have a private burial for Bill next to his wife Priscilla at Rose Hill Cemetery, Rocky Hill, CT.
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