Dr. R. E. Butler

Rodye Edward Butler, affectionately known as “Brother” or “Ed”, was the first son and fifth child, of thirteen, born to the late Rev. Rodye Harrison Butler and Media Josephine Williams Butler in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on November 10, 1929. At an early age, Rodye moved with his parents and four sisters from Pittsburgh to the Charles Town area of West Virginia. He was baptized in the Shenandoah River and became a member of the Sylvannah Baptist Church, where his father was the pastor. Different residences enabled him to serve as a member of many fellowships, more recently the Witherspoon Presbyterian Church where he was a Deacon and Elder.

Rodye was educated (1937–1949) in the public school system of Jefferson County, West Virginia. He completed his undergraduate work in 1953 at West Virginia State (University), located in Institute, earning a B.S. degree in Agriculture. He served from 1954-1956 in the U.S. Army, Artillery where he received an honorable discharge, retiring from his military obligation in the Army Reserves as a Major. Rodye later attended (1956) West Virginia University in Morgantown, as a prelude to his attendance at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, where he received a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) in 1960.

Rodye married his former wife, Margaret Fox; of this union, the couple had three children – Lynda Rochelle, Rodye Eric and Amelia Michelle. Later in life, Ed met and married Martha “Marty” Boyd to whom he remained married until her passing in February of 2008. Dr. Rodye Edward Butler started practicing Veterinary Medicine in the early 1960’s. A few years later, he went into private practice at the Plainfield Animal Hospital where he continued his practice up until 2015/2016.

Dr. Butler served as president of the Alpha Beta Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, the Plainfield Rotary Club and the Central Indiana Veterinary Medical Association. He was a Charter Member of the Board of Directors of the Plainfield Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Indiana Veterinary Association, a 30-year member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, a life member of the NAACP and also of the Plainfield Library. In 1985, Dr. Butler was appointed to a four-year term by the Governor to serve as a member of the Indiana State Board of Animal Health. He also received a two-year appointment to the Board of Directors of the Indiana Humane Society. In addition, Dr.
Butler was one of the four members of the 1995 Family of the Year, awarded by the Page Jackson High School Alumni Association in Charles Town, West Virginia. He became a member of the Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity in December of 1996. Most recently, he held the title of the oldest member of the Butler-Gilbert Family.

On the morning of November 21st, his mother’s birthday, Rodye Edward Butler was called home. He is challenging the angels to twist to the ground in Heaven where he is united with his parents; daughter, Lynda; wife, Marty; brother, James and; sisters, Annie, Catherine, Eleanor, Virginia, Josephine, Allen, Ella, and Gladys. He leaves behind to cherish his memories – his children, Eric and Michelle (Roger); grandchildren, Sterling, Makayla and Makenzie Phillips, Rachelle Moi (Holden), Ariel (Zach) and Eric-John (Celeste) Butler, and James Grace, Jr.; great- grandchildren, Brody Butler and Samson Moi; two sisters, Corrine Boyd and Margaret Pringle; one brother, Dr. Earl H. Butler (Carolyn); two brothers-in-law, Franklin Francis and Albert Stallworth; special friend, Lois Driver and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.