Ronald Butters

RONALD R. BUTTERS Naples, Fla. 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. Ron received his Ph.d. at the University of Iowa and worked for 40 years at Duke University as a professor of English and linguistics. 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 enjoyed the time he spent teaching in Bamburg, Germany, and Marrakesh, Morocco. Ron was preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy Thorson Butters; father, Richard Orton Butters; former wife, Janice Van Dyke; and daughter, Rebecca Khatambakhsh. He is survived by husband, Stewart Aycock; daughters, Catherine Blum (John) and Rachel Willis (Carl); son-in-law, Shahab Khatambakhsh; and two brothers, Don Butters (Mavis) and Tom Butters (De). Ron is also survived by one niece, two nephews, seven grandchildren and three great-grandsons. His graveside service will be held Saturday, May 1, at Pleasant Green United Methodist Church. 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.