John "Jack" Royal Butler passed away peacefully Nov. 13, 2013 surrounded by his family. Jack was born May 5, 1925 in Payson, UT to Lucille Johnson and Vivian Clarence Butler.
Jack grew up in Payson, Utah. He was an amazing always on the go person. He was an aviation enthusiast. As a child the kitchen table was always covered with balsa wood dust and a model airplane he was building. He purchased his own airplane shortly after marriage even before they had furniture. He later built numerous homebuilt airplanes and his own stunt planes. He flew in many air shows and competitive aerobatics. Jack flew his SX 300 homebuilt from Salt Lake City to the North Pole in 1995; one of only a few to accomplish such a feat. After flying over numerous polar bears he remarked that if he had gone down he would have just been part of the food chain.
Jack graduated from the University of Utah in 1948, with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He soon founded his own business, Butler Construction. Jack built over 95 projects all over the country. He excelled at technical construction projects, inventing many modern construction techniques. At age 34, he built the massive Metropolitan Water Purification Plant at Little Cottonwood Canyon in Salt Lack City. Today much of the Salt Lake Valley receives their drinking water from it.
He was an avid ham radio operator. If there had been ham radio operators on the moon, he would have talked with them.
Jack married Darlene Cowan on June 10, 1948 in the Salt Lake Temple. They are the parents of four children. Jack is survived by his wife, Darlene, son Boyd (Jacque), daughter Carolyn Lyman (George), sons Jim (Laurie), John (Greta). He has 19 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren, many step children and step grandchildren, and sister Pearl Raty. He is predeceased by son in law, Steve Ostler, daughter in law Janice Butler, brother Victor, sister June. Jack will be missed by all. We love you.
Funeral Services will be Monday November 18, 2013, at 12:00 noon at the Emigration 6th Ward, 589 E. 18th Avenue in Salt Lake City, UT. Visitors may call at 10:30 - 11:45. Online condolences may be made at www.larkincares.com
In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions to the Perpetual Education Fund of the LDS church at LDS Philanthropies, 1450 N. University Ave, Provo, UT 84604
