Dr. Ronald Richard Butters

1940 - 2021

Dr. Ronald Richard Butters
April 12, 1940 - April 6, 2021
Durham, North Carolina - Ronald Richard Butters 81, passed away in his home on April 6, 2021 after a long battle with cancer. Ron was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in February of 1940. After achieving his PhD at the University of Iowa, he moved to Durham, NC to begin his 40 year career at Duke University. He was a professor of English and Linguistics as well as a founder of the linguistics program at Duke University and held a joint appointment in the Cultural Anthropology Department at Duke. Following his retirement from Duke University in 2007, he developed a consulting firm called Trademark Linguistics and continued working in the field with many distinguished law firms.
Ron loved to travel and experience other cultures and he especially enjoyed the time he spent teaching in Bamburg, Germany and Marrakesh, Morocco, as well as the many lectures and seminars he gave in countries around the world. He was honored to touch the lives of so many students, as well as others, throughout his life.
Ron was preceded in death by his mother Dorothy Thorson Butters, father Richard Orton Butters, former wife Janice Van Dyke and daughter Rebecca Butters Khatambakhsh. He is survived by husband Stewart Aycock, daughters Catherine Butters Blum (John), Rachel Butters Willis (Carl), son-in-law Shahab Khatambakhsh, two brothers Don and Tom Butters, nephew Tim Butters and niece Sjonna Butters Brunt. He is also survived by grandchildren Laura Khatambakhsh, Nicholas Blum, Jennifer Blum, Michael Blum, Ally Willis Thompson (Wesley), Daniel Willis (Ruth Ellen), Bryson Willis and great grandchildren Grady Thompson and Luke & Sonny Willis. He greatly cherished his family and time spent with them.
His graveside service will be held on Saturday, May 1 at Pleasant Green United Methodist Church at 1:00 PM located at 3005 Pleasant Green Rd, Durham, NC 27705. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, face coverings and social distancing are required for all services. We ask that anyone experiencing cold/flu-like symptoms to please stay home.
The family is being assisted by Clements Funeral Services Inc. in Durham, NC & Legacy Cremation Services in Naples FL. Online condolences may be sent to www.clementsfumeralservice.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in support of The Forevermore Scholarship at the University of Iowa Center for Advancement, P.O. Box 4550, Iowa City, IA 52244-4550. On the memo line or on a note attached, please indicate "Gift in memory of Ronald Butters" Or you may make your gift on line: givetoiowa.org/forevermore.
The family is being assisted by Clements Funeral & Cremation Services, Inc. in Durham. Online condolences may be sent to www.clementsfuneralservice.com.