Robert “Bob” E. Butler passed away February 14, 2022. Bob was born April 13, 1934, near Doddsville, MS to James M. and Virginia Ree Butler. Bob was an active member of Sherwood Baptist Church. He lived his early life in Johnsville, AR. Later he moved to Drew, MS where he graduated from high school in 1952. He graduated from Mississippi State University in 1956 with a BS degree in mechanical engineering and was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the Air Force. He served his active military time in 1956-1959 at Eglin AFB, FL. He continued serving in the reserves as a captain until 1970.
He retired from civil service after working as an engineer for NASA/MSFC 1960 until 1994. At NASA, Bob worked on several programs: Saturn I, Saturn V Instrument Unit, Apollo Telescope Mount (ATM), various Skylab flight experiments, Shuttle Solid Rocket Motors (SRB), Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle (OMV), and Upper Stages. NASA/MSFC positions held were various Project Engineering, SRB Structures Subsystems Manager, Engineering Manager of OMV project, and Upper Stages Chief Engineer. Bob was a private pilot since 1958, building his own plane and restoring another. He was awarded a very prestigious Wright Brothers Master Award for flying 50 years accident free. Bob was also a singer, painter, and musician, playing the clarinet and saxophone. For several years he performed with the Huntsville Community Band, the Madison Community Band, and a small group playing big band music.
Bob had five children with Claire Moncus, namely: Robert E. Butler “Robby” and wife, Anastasia, Randy M. Butler and wife, Amy, Judy C. Lawrence and husband, John, Lory J. Rittmeyer and husband, Rick, and Tracy A. and wife, Toni. He also had three stepchildren when married to the late Dorothy Thomas, namely: Genie Griffin, Sherry Delancey, and Lisa Mitchell. Bob is survived by his wife, Ginger Butler. From these marriages, Bob had 19 grandchildren, three stepdaughters, seven step grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, and sister.
Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday, February 18 at Sherwood Baptist Church. The funeral will follow at the church with Bro. Robby Boyd officiating. Burial will be in Huntsville Memory Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Second Mile Development (https://secondmile.net/).
