Gilbert Butler

In lieu of flowers the family request memorials to
Alabama Baptist Children's Home
or
First Baptist Church - Guin
Visitation
Saturday November 8, 2025
10 - 11 AM
First Baptist Church - Guin
Guin, AL
Service
Saturday November 8, 2025
11 AM
First Baptist Church - Guin
Guin, AL
Graveside Service
Saturday November 8, 2025
3:30 PM
Bethel Cemetery
197 Keel Hollow Road
New Hope, AL 35760
Thomas Gilbert Butler age 102 of Guin, AL passed away Thursday, October 30, 2025 at his residence.
Born December 2, 1922on Glendale Farm in Woodville, Alabama, he was the son of the late Robert Lee Butler, Sr. and Almira Bottoms Butler and the husband of Marguerite Frances Reed Butler.
Gilbert graduated from New Hope High School and entered Auburn University in 1941. He was walking to class when he heard the announcement that Japan had attacked Pearl Harbor. He completed the year at Auburn, returned to farming, and eventually volunteered for the Navy, serving in a CASU (carrier aircraft service unit) in Hawaii. After the war, he returned to Auburn and graduated with a BS in Agriculture. He married Marguerite Frances Reed at Koinonia Farm near Americus, Georgia in 1956. They found teaching jobs at Lexington, Sheffield, and Center Star, Alabama. In 1960, they moved to Guin, Alabama, where Gilbert taught vocational agriculture. They joined Guin First Baptist Church and served joyfully for the next 59 years, until Marguerite's death in 2019. They did graduate work at Auburn in the summers, both eventually gaining masters degrees in education. Beginning in the 1970's and continuing after retirement, they served as volunteer missionaries for 42 years, including more than 20 states in the US and every continent except Antarctica.
He is preceded in death by his late wife, Marguerite Frances Reed Butler,by brothers James Edward Butler, Robert L. Butler, Jr, and Daniel Madison Butler, and by sisters Nancilu Butler, Helen Ruth Butler Potts,Mary Alice Butler, and Bettie Almira Butler Pearson.
He is survived by a son, Jed Butler (Terry) of Columbus, GA, by daughters Leanna Butler Salley (Dennis) of Hollandale, MS, and Marcie Butler of Concord, NC, and by grandchildren Katelynn Turner (Tyler), Kendyl Salley, David Salley, Collin Salley, Rowan Butler, Caleb O'Quinn, and Cliff O'Quinn, and by great-granddaughters Charlsie, Blakely, and Annalae Turner.
His daily prayer was that God would help him love others the way that Jesus loved him.
Visitation is at Guin First Baptist Church on Saturday, November 8th, 2025 at 10:00 AM, with funeral to follow at 11:00, Bro. Zane Miles officiating. Graveside services will be held at 3:30PM at Bethel Cemetery 179 Keel Hollow Road, New Hope, AL 35760 with Bro. Dennis Salley officiating.
Veal Memorial Funeral Home of Guin AL directing.