Landon J. (Buddy) Butler, 86, went to be with the Lord, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013. He was born March 14, 1926 in Anderson County to Landon Carter and Winnie Butler.

During World War II Buddy served his country with honor in the U.S. Army, where he earned the Purple Heart, American Theatre Medal, EAME Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and World War II  Victory Medal during the Rhineland and Central Europe Campaigns.  After the war he worked at Perrin Air Force Base as a boiler foreman before returning to his hometown of Palestine where he owned and operated a mobile home moving and wrecker service. He was also a member of Antioch Baptist Church and a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans Post 63.

He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Clarice Langston Butler; daughter and son-in-law, Sharon and Roice Melton of Palestine; son and daughter-in-law, Alton (A.C.) and Sheena Butler of Longview; grandchildren, Shawna Powell of Palestine, Senior Chief Curtis and Melissa Butler of Camarillo, Calif., Christie and Brent Trahan of Angleton, Renae and Craig Ewald of League City, Monica and Lee Hay of Longview; stepgrandchildren, Carley and Mikey Saladino of Alvin; great-grandchildren, Britney and Hayley Butler of Camarillo, Calif., Jospeh, Samuel and Timothy Trahan of Angleton, Austin Walsh, Tyler and Corrigan Ewald of League City, Carter, Avery and Spencer Hay of Longview; stepgreat-grandchildren, Michael and Jacob Saladino; sister, Johnnie Simmons of Palestine; along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; Landon Carter and Winnie Butler; brothers, Clyde Butler and Arnold Ray Butler; and sisters, Edna Earl Sims, Lorena Ward, Doris Hill and Dorothy Ward.

Pallbearers will be Curtis Butler, Craig Ewald, Austin Walsh, Joseph Trahan, Roice Melton and Lee Hay.

Condolence calls were received Monday.

Funeral services were at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013 at Bailey & Foster Funeral Home. Burial followed in Fields Chapel Cemetery, with Fred Neal and Brent Trahan presiding.  

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to a favorite charity.

Special thanks to Dr. Wilder and staff at Oncology Palestine, Texas, VA Clinic in Palestine and VA Comfort Care Unit in Temple and friends who helped during this time.

To view online, leave condolences or sign guestbook go to www.baileyandfosterfuneralhome.com.