Walter Leon Butler

Walter Leon Butler, 92, who passed away, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008, at his home, was born March 9, 1916, at Chanute, Kan., to John and Elizabeth (Sekman) Butler. Most of his schooling was in Chanute. However, in 1934, he moved to Ottawa rejoining his family which had moved here earlier. He attended Ottawa High School his senior year. It was at that time that he met his future wife, Jessie Tucker. His first job here was at a dairy, but he soon quit that job and went to work for W. G. Saunders at his music store, volunteering to work for nothing. Soon he was being paid ten dollars a week. Walter and Jessie married on June 26, 1938, in Ottawa. Mr. Saunders said ten dollars a week was not enough for a married man so he increased Walter's wages to fifteen dollars. Their first child, Bill, was born the following March in 1939. Rex was born in 1941, Bob in 1943, and Beth in 1948. As Mr. Saunders grew frail with age, Walter took over the music store. He managed the store from 1951 until 1956 when he purchased the store from Mr. Saunders's widow. For the next 40 years, he was Ottawa's Music Man, providing music instruments, repair and good advice in Ottawa and the surrounding area. Many hundreds of people probably still have a piano bought from him. The walls of the store were covered with musical instruments from all over the world, many of which were gifts from students he had befriended. He came from a musical family, and played the trombone all his life, until ill health prevented him from continuing. He was a member of the Ottawa summer band for many years. He was band director at Richmond and Michigan Valley in the late 1930s and early 1940s. On June 10, 1996, 62 years to the day he started work for Mr. Saunders; Walt closed the music store and retired at age 80. He spent his last years at home tending to his beloved yard and trees. Walter was an active member of Ottawa's downtown community and a past exalted ruler of Ottawa Lodge No. 803, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is survived by his one daughter, Beth Scalet, of Kansas City, Mo.; two sons, Bill Butler of Ottawa, Kan., and Bob Butler, of Austin, Texas; two brothers, Oscar Butler, of Las Cruces, N.M., and Robert 'Bob' Butler, of St Petersburg, Pa.; one sister, Joanne Butler Imming, of Coronado, Calif.; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jessie, and a son, Rex. We shall not see his like again. The family will be receiving visitors at the home of Keith and Retta Pence, 104 Elm St., on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. The family plans to have a memorial concert celebrating 'Ottawa's Music Man' in the spring. In accordance with Walter's wishes no formal funeral services are planned. Memorial Contributions may be made out to the Americana Academy of Music in Lawrence, KS, in care of Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory St., Ottawa, KS 66067. Condolences may be mailed to Box 654, Ottawa, Kansas or emailed through the mortuary at dengelmortuary@sbcglobal.net.