BRIDGEWATER - Paul F. Butler, 84, of Bridgewater, passed away on Sept. 25, 2006, at Middleboro Skilled Care Center after a long illness. He was the husband of Jane C. Colson Butler.
Born July 1, 1922, in Cambridge, he was the son of the late James and Mary (Keenan) Butler.
Mr. Butler was a graduate of Cambridge Latin High School and Harvard College, Class of 1944.
He served in the U.S. Air Force as a radar navigator bombarder, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
He obtained his law degree from Boston University Law School in 1948 (Class of 1949), and was an editor of the Law Review. He was a member of the Massachusetts Bar and the American Bankers Associations.
Mr. Butler specialized in trust banking and lectured throughout the country on probate taxation and estate planning. He served on the Melrose School Committee, the Melrose chapter of the American Red Cross, the Republican City Committee, and as president of the South Yarmouth Public Library.
Mr. Butler was a Vice President of State Street Bank & Trust, where he worked for 30 years.
In 1978, he became Vice President and Trust Counsel of Wilmington (DE) Trust Company, and later served in the same capacity at Cape Cod Bank & Trust Company.
Mr. Butler was active in Harvard Alumni activities, and enjoyed reading, tennis, and swimming.
Mr. Butler is survived by his beloved wife of 56 years. Jane Colson Butler, his five children, Brian, Linda, Craig, Suzanne and Diana Butler; his six grandchildren, Shiuan Tsao Butler, Miles Montgomery-Butler, Emily Butler Klyza, Clare Montgomery-Butler, Andrew Colson Klyza and Daniel Cox Butler; and his two sisters, Dorothy Butler Kohler and Louise Butler.
A funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, Sept. 30, at 10:30 a.m. at the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, Center Street, in Bridgewater. Visiting hours will be on Friday, Sept. 29, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Prophett Funeral Home, 98 Bedford St. (Rte. 18), Bridgewater.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Middleboro Skilled Care Center Family Council Fund, c/o Paula Cieplik, 23 Isaac St., Middleboro, MA 02346, or the Doreen Grace Brain Center, New Seabury, MA 02649.