John Decker Butzner Jr.

The honorable Judge John Decker Butzner Jr., 88, of Richmond, died Friday, Jan. 20, 2006.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Viola P. Butzner; his son, Dr. J. Decker Butzner of Calgary, Alberta; a sister, Jane Jacobs of Toronto, Ontario; a brother, James I. Butzner and his wife, Kay, of Lake Junaluska, N.C.

Judge Butzner was preceded in death by a sister, Elizabeth Butzner Manson. Also surviving are his stepgrandsons, David G. Dunlop of Regina, Saskatchewan and Jesse M. Dunlop of Calgary, Alberta; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Judge Butzner graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law (LLB) in 1941. He served in the United States Air Force Weather Service in Alaska from 1942 to 1945. From 1946 to 1958 he practiced law in Fredericksburg, Va., where he also served many community organizations. In 1958, he was appointed Associate Judge of the 15th Judicial Circuit Court of Virginia. He served as Judge of the 39th Judicial Circuit Court of Virginia from 1960 to 1962. He was appointed to United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in 1962. In 1967 he was appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit where he served until his retirement in 2000. From 1988 to 1998 he was also a member of the three-judge panel of the Division of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit for the Appointment of Independent Counsels.

The family would like to extend special gratitude to Sadie Dabney, Gay Barry McAllister and the professionals at Care Advantage and Mature Options for the extraordinary care they have provided.

Funeral services will be private.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the Hon. John D. Butzner Jr., Law Scholarship Endowment Fund, c/o University of Virginia School of Law Foundation, 580 Massie Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903 or to a charity of your choice.