Edwin Butterfield

Edwin L. Butterfield, 93, Clay Center, KS passed away on November 7, 2011 at the Presbyterian Manor in Clay Center. He was born to Bernard and Lila (Walker) Butterfield on December 29, 1917 on the family farm north of Overbrook, KS. He was graduated from Overbrook Rural High School in 1936 and from Kansas State Teachers College of Emporia in 1940. He was a teacher in the high schools of Tonganoxie, Burlington, and Junction City and an administrator in the schools of Herington and Clay Center, retiring in 1983 after 40 years of service. Ed served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He worked in Naval recruitment in Philadelphia, PA, and was then assigned to the submarine tender, Clytie, in the Pacific theatre and was stationed in Perth, Australia. On September 2, 1944, he was married to Ruth Ruhlen in Philadelphia, PA. She survives of the home. Ed is also survived by four children: Edwin, Jr. and wife Cheryl of Portland, OR; Ann Burkett and husband Joe of Fort Collins, CO; Susan Butterfield and partner Diana, of Lawrence, KS; and Bradley and wife Lori of Centennial, CO. Survivors also include seven grandchildren – Todd Butterfield, Jason, Nicholas and Brea Burkett, and Bradley, Jenna and Austin Butterfield; five great grandchildren; one sister, Myrtle Brown of Overbrook, and one brother, Marion (Sam) Butterfield of Hutchinson, KS. He was preceded in death by an infant sister, Clara Arlene, and brothers Harold, Duane, and Lloyd. Ed was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and Clerk of the Session for many years. He had been a member of the Herington and Clay Center Rotary Clubs where he had achieved 35 years of perfect attendance. He and Ruth chaired the Clay Center Red Cross Bloodmobile program for nearly 30 years. Ed served as the chair of the Clay County Republican Party for many years. Visitation will be Thursday, November 10th from 3:00-8:00 p.m. at the Neill-Schwensen-Rook Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Clay Center at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, November 11th, with graveside services to follow at 3:30 p.m. at the Overbrook, KS cemetery, Overbrook, KS. Memorials can be made to the Edwin L. Butterfield Memorial Fund, in care of the funeral home, to be designated at a later date.