Marian Rebecca Butler

Marian Rebecca Butler, age 101, born November 18, 1913 in Fort Gaines, Georgia, made her transition on Wednesday, March 4, 2015, while surrounded by loving family members. She was the sixth of ten children, 5 sons and 5 daughters, born to Henry and Eloise Thomas Butler. The family moved to Columbus, Ohio in November 1917. Rebecca was educated in the Columbus Public Schools and The Ohio State University. She taught school in Pine Bluff, Arkansas and Macon, Georgia before returning home to attend graduate school at The Ohio State University. She was on the Honor Roll throughout grade school, and as an undergraduate college student, she was elected to the National Scholastic Honor Society, Kappa Omicron Nu. While pursuing a graduate degree in Textile Science, she earned membership in the graduate women's scientific honorary, Sigma Delta Epsilon, also a national organization. When the United States entered World War II, Rebecca put her graduate studies aside and went to work on the assembly line of Curtis-Wright, the local airplane factory. At the conclusion of the war, she returned to the academic world. Upon completion of her graduate studies, Rebecca was employed by The Ohio State University as a classroom instructor and researcher in her major. For several years, she was Associate Editor of a technical bulletin issued monthly by her department reporting on work being conducted in the Textile Research Laboratory. She retired on June 30, 1982, after 36 years of service. At that time, The Ohio State University Board of Trustees granted her the title Assistant Professor Emeritus. She continued to keep in touch with former colleagues through three organizations of The Ohio State University retirees who came together at different times and locations monthly for lunch, chit-chat, and sharing of experiences. Rebecca has been a very active member of the St. Paul A.M.E. Church since early in her life and served on many boards and organizations in the church. She served her church faithfully and attended weekly until her health prevented her attendance in late 2014. Rebecca was never married but she was a critical part of a very close knit family which included a family legacy of extended family values. She has enjoyed giving support and assistance to many relatives that would ensure the success of future generations. Her life was about her church, education and family and she executed those responsibilities faithfully with love. She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings. She is survived by many nieces and nephews who she more than prepared to keep the Butler Family legacy alive, including nieces, Courtney Robinson, Eloise K. Butler, Terehasa Lee-MChunganji, Judith Batts, Vanessa Butler, and Valarie Butler; great nieces, Mieka Ludaway, Rhonda L. Butler, Rebecca L. Butler, Rhonda Barbour, Tavia Batts, Thea Harms, and Nakia Butler; nephews, Herman C. Butler, Ronald Batts, William J. Butler, and Henry J. Butler; great nephews, Michael T. Bush, Nicholas C. Bush, Santana Ludaway, Erik E. Ludaway, Gabriel J. Ludaway, Javon Butler, LaJuan Butler, and Kaimbu Batts; aunt Stella Keith; cousins, Senetta Barton Almira and Michael (Otha) Fisher; and many other great nieces and nephews.