Don W. Butcher, 79, Was active in bowling in Lorain
Don W. Butcher, 79, of Lorain, died Tuesday May 5, 2015 at the home of his son David in Worthington after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.
He was born February 22, 1936 in Lorain and had lived in Lorain most of his life. He had resided with his family in Worthington for the past 3 years.
Don was a graduate of the Lorain High School 1954 A Class and served with the United States Air Force during the Korean War.
He worked as a shipping clerk at the Lorain Ford Assembly Plant retiring after 28 years. Prior to that, he worked at American Shipbuilding in Lorain from 1968‐1972.
Don was active in bowling in Lorain. For 15 years, he organized Lorain bowling squads to go to the Ohio State Bowling Tournament and for 22 years he has arranged for squads to attend the ABC National Bowling Tournament. Don has been an officer in every league since 1957 when he started bowling. From 1981 to 1986 he was President of the Northern Ohio Industrial Tournament. In 1997 he became an advisor on the board of the Lorain USBC Bowling Association. In 2001 he became an Executive Director of the Lorain USBC BA and was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 2002. In 1982 at the Lorain City Tournament he won the Sheriff Mertz Trophy for bowling 308 pins over his average. He was also 1st in Singles Handicap with 745 series and 1st in All Events with a score of 2048. In 1986, Don and his son David placed 2nd in Doubles Handicap at the Ohio State Bowling Tournament.
Don was a member of the Church of St. Peter in Lorain, UAW Local #425 and a member and past commandery president of Knights of St. John #281 in Lorain.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years Patricia A. Butcher (nee Kovacs), sons David Butcher (Shannon) of Worthington and Tim (wife Kristen) Butcher of Brandon, Mississippi, grandchildren Jeffrey, Samantha, Chad and Zackary, brothers Dale ( wife Maxine)Butcher of Amherst, John “Jack” Butcher, Harold “Skip” (wife Joanne) Butcher & sister Sandra Butcher all of Lorain.
The family will receive friends Friday 4‐8 pm at the Gluvna‐Shimo‐Hromada Funeral Chapel, 3224 Broadway Ave, Lorain. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 10:30 am in the funeral chapel followed by the mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am at the Church of St. Peter, 3501 Oberlin Ave, Lorain. The Rev. Craig Hovanec, pastor, will officiate. Burial will follow in Ridge Hill Memorial Park in Amherst Township where the Disabled American Veterans Post #20 of Lorain will conduct military honors.
The family in honor of Don’s love and service to the sport of bowling will be establishing The ‘Don Butcher Legacy and Service Scholarship’ fund in support of youth bowling in Lorain. In lieu of flowers please feel free to support this Scholarship by making your checks payable to the Lorain USBC BA.
Online condolences can be made at www.gluvna.net