Obituary of Gene Butts

Dr. Franklin Eugene �Gene� Butts, age 83, of Boone, passed away Sunday morning, May 1, 2016 at Caldwell Hospice & Palliative Care. Born March 18, 1933 in Belleville, Arkansas, he was a son of the late Vernie Arthur and Hazel Tempe Rutledge Butts. Gene was a retired accounting professor, having worked at Appalachian State University. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church. Gene served in the US Navy during the Korean War. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He was the best papaw to Austin and Adam. He is survived by his wife, Shirley Osborne Butts, one daughter, Amy Robinson and husband Jamie of Taylorsville, and one son, Del Butts and wife Angie of Henderson, NC, two grandsons, Austin Winebarger of Knoxville and Adam Winebarger of Boone, two sisters, Karolyn Chapman and husband Gary of Winston-Salem and Regina Wright of Salisbury one brother, Bobby Ray Butts and wife Betsy of Lexington, and a number of nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by one sister, Okla Antoni, and five brothers, Arthur, Quinton, Archie, George and Connie Butts. He served his community by being a long time member of Kiwanis Club, out of state missions through his church, and a Boy Scout leader for special needs group. In addition, he arose to National President of Beta Alpha Psi, the accounting fraternity, in which he influenced the lives of many accounting students. He was an avid fisherman who loved fishing with Charlie Speer and George Sox, his fishing buddies. Funeral services for Dr. Gene Butts will be conducted Thursday afternoon at 1 o�clock at the First Presbyterian Church. Officiating will be Rev. Jeff Smith. Burial will follow in Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens. The family will receive friends Thursday, prior to the service from noon until 1 o�clock at the First Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Gene Butts /Beta Alpha Psi Accounting Faculty Scholarship, Walker College of Business, PO Box 32037, Boone, NC 28608. Online condolences may be shared with the Butts family at www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com. Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Butts family.