Charles Owen Butler

The Reverend Charles Owen Butler, 87, died Wednesday, October 29, 2014, at Arbor Terrace, Rochester, MN. A Memorial Service will be held at 3pm Sunday, November 2, 2014, at Christ United Methodist Church, 400 5th Ave. SW, Rochester, MN 55902, with the Reverend Elizabeth Macaulay officiating. Instead of flowers, Memorial Contributions may be made to Christ United Methodist Church for mission work in Guatemala and in Panama, or to Arbor Terrace Activity Fund, 24 8th St. NW, Rochester, MN 55901.. Charles was born January 28, 1927, in Huntsville, AL, the son of Charles Taylor Butler and Hallie (Owen) Butler. He was graduated from New Hope High School, Birmingham Southern College, and Candler School of Theology at Emory University. He completed additional postgraduate work at Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University, and New Mexico State University. Charles served in the United States Army near the end of WWII, stationed at Fort Benning, GA. Charles answered the call of God to serve as a missionary in Panama, and later as a pastor of United Methodist Churches in Alabama and Iowa. He married Marilyn Ann Fromm on May 29, 1954, in Plymouth, Iowa. They served together as a team in their missionary and pastoral work. Charles retired in 1991, and they made Rochester their home, first in SE Rochester, then at Meadow Lakes, and then at Arbor Terrace. Marilyn died October 31, 2007. Charles lived his beliefs. He served three months in federal prison in 2000 for participating in non-violent protest of the School of the Americas located in Fort Benning, GA, In recent years he was active in the Prison Visitation Ministry. He was active in worship and study groups at Christ United Methodist Church and at Arbor Terrace/Samaritan Bethany, as well as the Centering Prayer group at Calvary Episcopal Church. Charles (or Chuck), loved God, loved life, loved all and always treated others with kindness, gentleness, and respect. Charles is survived by his children John Butler (Barb Platt), Silver Spring, MD; Anne Butler, Pflugerville, TX; and Beverly Butler, Mason City, IA; two granddaughters, Laura Butler and Sarah Butler, Silver Spring, MD;. one brother, John Ed Butler, New Hope, AL; brother-in-law and sister-in-law John and Thelma Fromm, Prescott, AZ; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Geraldine and Dean Schwarz, Mason City/Decorah, IA; nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends.