Crawley Arthur Butler Jr.

Mr. Crawley Arthur "Bill" Butler, Jr., age 92, of Savannah passed away on Wednesday, February 19, 2025.

Mr. Butler was born on March 7, 1932 in Norfolk, Virginia to the late Crawley Arthur Butler, Sr. and the late Callie Brimmer Butler. He attended public school in Norfolk, graduating from Norview HS and joined the US Air Force in July of 1950. He is a Korean War veteran serving with the 452 Bomb Wing Light and the 51 Fighter Wing from 1950 to 1952. He was part of the squadron that built a practice bombing range along the Yulu river that was used to train new pilots.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Gwendolyn Kicklighter Butler of Savannah and his sister Callie Anderson.

He was a retired Master Sergeant serving over 20 years in the United States Air Force, retiring in 1971. He was a member of Savannah Elks Lodge #183 and Acacia Lodge #452 F&AM where he served in many leadership positions in both organizations. He contributed his time as a Little League coach in Savannah and taught Hunter Safety for the Georgia DNR.

Survivors include his daughter, Julie Bean (Rick) of Savannah; sons, William Allen Butler (Stella) of Gresham Oregon, and Timothy Arthur Butler of Savannah; four grandchildren, Matthew Bean (Jyl) , Scott Bean (Claire), and Megan Hall (Jeffrey); five great-grandchildren, Julian Bamberg, Beau Bean, Daisy Bean, Gabriella Hall and Joseph Hall; his brothers Gary and Curt Butler; his sisters Daisy Evans, Vera Reich (George) and Linda Jackson.

A visitation service will be held on Tuesday, February 25, 2025 from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Baker McCullough Funeral Home, Hodgson Memorial Chapel (7415 Hodgson Memorial Drive, Savannah, GA 31406). The Elks Lodge #183 will provide a traditional Elk’s ceremony at 5 PM to honor Mr. Butler’s years of service.

A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, February 26, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. at Beards Creek Primitive Baptist Church in Glennville, GA with full military honors. A fellowship meal will be held at the Savannah Elks Lodge at 183 Wilshire Blvd, Savannah GA at 3:30 PM following the graveside service.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Gwen Kicklighter Butler Memorial Nursing Scholarship (Georgia Southern University, PO Box 8053, Statesboro, GA 30460) if sending contribution by mail or you can use the following link to send your contribution via the school’s website:
https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/54733/donations/new. Under “Designation” please select Gwen Kicklighter Butler Memorial Nursing Scholarship.