SYLVIA JANE POWELL BUTLER, 78, passed away on
April 1, 2017 in Stephenville, TX, with burial at Evergreen
Cemetery in Ranger, TX.
She was born July 10, 1938, in Gorman, TX & attended Ranger
High School in the Class of 1957. Sylvia was known for her
loving nature and generosity. She always thought of others
first. She greatly loved God, her family, and her friends.
Sylvia loved to talk, and she loved to laugh. There is a
special place in heaven for military spouses, and Sylvia
earned that place after marrying the love of her life,
Robert "Bob" Butler, in March of 1955. She gave birth to
their first son in a military hospital in Germany and their
second son was born in a military hospital at Camp Wolters,
TX. Sylvia supported her husband through many relocations
and various deployments. After her husband's retirement from
the Army, Sylvia worked alongside her husband (and other
business partners) for many years as a co-owner of a number
of businesses in the Ranger area: Bob's Premier, The Gusher,
Boomtown Supper Club, The Sundance Club, Mini-Masters Miniature
Golf, and Tumbleweed Club (Strawn, TX). Sylvia later worked
for many years for Sally Beauty Supply in Ballwin, MO, and
Kemah, TX.
Sylvia was preceded in death by her husband, Robert "Bob"
Butler in 1986. She lost her mother, Opal Glen (Cox) Poovey
in 1992. Sylvia lost her father, William Robert Elton Powell,
at an early age, when he was involved in a car accident in
1941. She also lost two stepfathers: Robert Aubrey Holliday
(d. in 1957) and Howard Ray Poovey (d. in 2003).
Sylvia is survived by her son, Robert Dale Butler (RHS-1975)
and his wife Susan (Hamilton) Butler (RHS-1975) of Nanjemoy,
MD, and her son, Richard Glenn Butler (RHS-1978) and his
husband Joseph LaGasse of Stephenville, TX. Her grandchildren
include: Kristin Irene Butler and her husband, Robert Thomas
Jones; Robert Dale Butler, Jr.; Leslie Kay Newcomb; Randall
Gene Butler; Ryan Glenn Butler; and Reed Gregory Butler. She
is also survived by ten great-grandchildren; a brother, Robert
D. Powell and his wife Dixie Powell of Meridian, MS; and, a
favorite aunt, Ruth Ann (Cox) Lemmons of Cedar Hill, TX.
HUSBAND: ROBERT "BOB" BUTLER, 58, died in 1986,
with burial in Evergreen Cemetery in Ranger, TX.
Butler was born on Aug. 31, 1928 in Ranger and lived there
for many years. He served in the U.S. Army in post-WWII
Germany & in Korea, retiring as a first sergeant after 20
years & 6 months of service.
He was a 28-year member of the Masonic Lodge & the Shriners
and was a charter member of the Cross Timbers Scottish Rite.
He served as commander of the Eastland VFW Post No.4136 and
District 8.
Butler served two terms on the Ranger City Council. He owned
several businesses in the Eastland County area. He was a
member of St. Rita Catholic Church in Ranger.
Survivors include his wife, Sylvia Butler of Austin; his
mother, Mrs. Vivian Davis of Ranger; two sons, Richard Glen
Butler and Robert Dale Butler, both of Austin; a sister,
Helen Boyd of Ventura, CA; and five grandchildren.