Donald Wayne Butler

Donald W. Butler, age 84, of Grants Pass, died July 23, 2022 at an adult foster home.

Don was born August 17, 1937 in Prairie City, Iowa to Robert & Beatrice Butler. He received a Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering from San Jose State University. On June 25, 1960 in Walnut Creek, California, he married Arlette Knudsen. For 34 years he was employed at the Weapons Quality Engineering Center, Naval Weapons Station in Concord, California starting out as a student trainee while earning his degree and working his way up to supervisory electronics engineer until he retired.

In 2008 he moved from Clayton, California to Grants Pass.

Some of his many special work assignments included developed a new organization structure to maximize safety, quality, and productivity of the missile maintenance processes; planning task force which developed a WPNSTA 5-year Information Resources Plan; implemented office automation within the weapon quality engineering center on minicomputer using ‘all-in-one’ software; member WPNSTA Concord material review board for missile problems; and WPNSTA Concord representative to the San Francisco Bay area Federal Executive Board.

His memberships over the years included American Society of Mechanical Engineers, charter member of Concord Pavilion Association sponsoring performing arts, Pacific Interclub Yacht Association, Pittsburg Yacht Club, Diablo Yacht Club, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Contra Costa Crisis Intervention Service, and Contra Costa County Emergency Medical Care Committee.

Don’s favorite hobby was boating on the Delta and San Francisco Bay. He also enjoyed working in the yard, remodeling homes, and traveling to Mexico where he had a timeshare in Puerto Vallarta for many years. While in community college he built a car called “The Butler Special” and later rebuilt a Morgan Car.

Survivors include his wife Arlette Butler of Grants Pass, Oregon; daughter Marcelle (Doug) Hull of Grants Pass; son Brent (Cynthia) Butler and grandsons Brandon and Aidan all of San Ramon, California.

He was preceded in death by son Eric Butler and his parents.

A celebration of life for family and friends will be at 3:00 p.m., August 19, 2022 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Grants Pass with Pastor Kirby Nave officiating