Ruth Harriet Butler

October, 06, 1921 - January, 12, 2013

Ruth Harriet Butler, 91, of Wesley Village, died Saturday, Jan. 12. She was a native of Buffalo, NY born Oct. 6, 1921, to the late Edgar J. and Pearl Ackerman Gretzinger. She was the widow of David Milton Butler who passed away in 1996.

Ruth was the librarian at the Buffalo Bible Institute now known as the Houghton College, Buffalo Campus from 1955 to 1996.

During her career she served as teacher/librarian in Franklinville, NY, Agate School, Agate, CO, staff member of Campfire Girls, Cincinnati, OH, and part-time librarian of West Seneca Public Library, NY. She was a member of the Arethusa Society Sorority, SUNY Geneseo, New York Library Association, founding member of the Christian Librarians Fellowship now known as the Association of Christian Librarians, was President and First Editor of the Christian Periodical Index, member of Church and Synagogue Library Association of which she founded the Western New York Chapter in 1984, and was chairman of their National Conference Planning Committee in 1995. She received the Emily Russel Award for lifetime achievement from the Association of Christian Librarians of which she was a lifetime member, received the Torch Bearer Award, in 1937, an award for the highest campfire, and was listed in the Who's Who of American Women.

Ruth was a member of the Bethlehem Presbyterian Church in Buffalo and an associate member of Wilmore United Methodist Church where she attended the Beacon/Builder Sunday School Class, and was a member of the UMW. She loved knitting, embroidery, reading and reviewing books, teaching Sunday School, and entertaining.

She is survived by a son Douglas J. Butler and wife Janet G., grandchildren Rebecca Murphy, husband Scottie, Rachel Edmondson, husband David, Mark Butler, wife Krissie, and Matthew Butler wife Merrideth, great grandchildren Shawn D., Michael A. and Sarah G. Murphy, Magnolia Edmondson, Avery and Gabriel Butler, special cousin Ruthanne Litzenberger, of MD, and her "family" of Holloway Cottage in Wesley Village.

A Service of Remembrance will be held 4:30 PM Sunday Jan. 20, in the Community Center at Wesley Village in Wilmore officiating is Rev. Mike Voigts. The Beacon/Builder Sunday School Class, Wilmore Book Club and the Wesley Village Book Club will honor her with their attendance. The family will receive friends from 3:00 PM until service time.

In lieu of flowers please send donations in her memory to Wilmore United Methodist Church, Wesley Village, or the Foundation For Christian Librarians, Cedarville, OH. Guestbook and tribute www.hagerandcundifffunerals.com

Funeral Information

3:00 PM Sunday, Jan. 20, Community Center, Wesley Village

4:30 PM Sunday, Jan. 20, community Center, Wesley Village

Cremation was under the direction of Hager & Cundiff Funeral Home