Charles Edward Butler, Jr.

Charles Edward Butler, Jr. was born in Reading, PA, on September 9, 1928 to Charles E. and Jessie H. Butler.
Charles and his wife, Doris, moved with 6 of their 8 children to Claremore from Pennsylvania in 1977 when Getty Oil relocated to Tulsa.
Charles was an avid Philadelphia sports fan, particularly the Philadelphia Phillies. This year he celebrated the Eagles becoming Super Bowl champs, Villanova winning the NCAA Championship, and his beloved Phillies moving into first place on the day he passed.
Charles attended West Catholic Boys High School in Philadelphia. He enjoyed playing the trumpet and baritone horn and was a member of the Art Club, but his real passion was playing baseball. He played for an American Legion team as a first baseman, which spawned a lifelong love of the sport.
Charles served in the Army, attending basic training at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina. He received medic training at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX and was then stationed at Valley Forge General Hospital in Phoenixville, PA, where he worked as a surgical technician.
Following his service, Charles attended St. Joseph's College in Philadelphia, majoring in Business Administration. He met his future wife, Doris Straub, while working in the banking industry. They were married June 4, 1955, at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Philadelphia.
Charles had a long career with Getty Oil Company, retiring in 1985. He and Doris enjoyed traveling and spending time with their grandchildren. A favorite trip was the annual fall trek to Pennsylvania to visit family, lifelong friends and attend his high school reunions. They also enjoyed attending their grandchildren's school, athletic, and extra-curricular activities.
Charles was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife, Doris, and grandchild, Kyle Cagle. He is survived by his eight children: Terri (Bill) Ives of Media, PA; Linda (George) Laskaris of Honey Brook, PA; Geoff (June) Butler of Chouteau; Craig (Lori) Butler; Cheryl (Robert) Pace; Audrey (Mick) Webber; Stacey Butler; and Chris (Jill) Butler, all of Claremore, OK. Charles is survived by his sister, Judy Easter of Brick, NJ, and sister-in-law Betty Mellon of Broomall, PA.
Charles is also survived by 22 grandchildren: Aaron Cylinder, Amy Goldman, Michael Martin, Cristin Young, Olivia Laskaris, Debra Armstrong, Dayna Mabe, Devyn Timmons, Robert Scott, Danielle Parnell, Magen Willis, Brooke Horawa, Tiffany Butler, Kayla Fernandez, Kylie Hall, Brian Cagle, Quinn Pace, Matthew Webber, Andrew Webber, Alex Webber, Parker Butler and Josh Butler; 18 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial mass is being planned in the near future at St. Cecilia Catholic Church where Charles was a parishioner.
Visitation will be held at MMS-Payne Funeral Home in Claremore, OK, from 1pm to 7 pm on Friday, July 13th with family greeting friends from 5 to 7. A funeral service will be held in the MMS-Payne chapel on Saturday at 10 am.
Contributions in Charles' memory may be made to the Doris S. Butler Memorial Scholarship Fund supporting members of the Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps at jerseysurf.org.