Henry Dulyn Butler

Henry Dulyn Butler was born November 5, 1924 in Rusk County, Texas and died at his home on Springlake, Saline County, Arkansas on February 21, 2012 at 4:05 a.m. He was predeceased by parents, George Henry and Julia Schockler Butler, a brother Darriel of Virginia, a sister Vivian B. Whitley, Monahans, Texas and a step-son, Ronald D. Styles of Little Rock, Arkansas. He leaves his beloved wife Patricia Ozment Butler, a son, Everett W. Butler of Tuscola, Texas, a daughter Cheri B. Rodgers of Whitharral, Texas, two stepsons, Wayne Styles of Centerville and Donald L. Styles of Redfield, a stepdaughter, Marion S. Cope of Nashville, Tennessee, a sister, Darris B. Hagler of Abilene, Texas and numerous nieces and nephews and his much loved Shis Tzu, Sir Chiang Kai, II. Dulyn was proud of his Texas roots, but had made his home in Arkansas since the early 70's. He grew up in the small, rich oil town of Iraan, Texas, lettered in four sports four years, played in the band and belonged to the debate team. Dulyn graduated high school in May 1943 and entered the U.S. Army Air Corp. He spent most of his service time in school, and was discharged in the late summer of 1946 in time to enter Texas Tech on the newly available GI BILL. He graduated in 1949 with a Degree in Business Management and many hours toward a Masters. Dulyn had a wonderful outgoing personality, never meeting a stranger and soon found his niche in sales. He had several positions in Texas & Arizona before joining a small company called Frontier Stamp Co. With popularity of trading stamps rising in the U.S. he soon found his company sold to Gold Bond Trading Stamps, Minneapolis, MN. His first zone was Little Rock and he and his family came to Arkansas. Moving rapidly up the corporate ladder, he was transferred to the home office, made a Vice-President in Sales and placed over the U.S. located East of the Mississippi River. This was a total of 16 offices, with Managers, Salesman, and Secretaries. The owner of Gold Bond loved to hold sales contest and give out titles. Dulyn was always winning. Carlson Co's is still a privately owned company and among the top 15 in our country. In 1988 upon the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the founding of Gold Bond Trading Stamp co., a Carlson Fellows Hall of Fame was established. In an extravagant weekend of celebration,4000 people attended a sitdown dinner prepared by Raddisson Hotel chefs flown in from around the world. Mr. Bob Hope, Hollywood, California was the Master of Ceremonies and Dulyn was the first person to be inducted along with 49 other active and retired employees. Trading stamps lost their appeal with grocery owners in the mid 80's but this was a great opportunity for the truck stop industry. Dulyn was in charge of the entire division covering the whole U.S. He made headquarter calls, attended grand openings, served on the National Truck Stop Foundation Board of Directors, attended celebrity golf tournaments to raise funds to educate the public on the "safe haven" of truck stops for battered women and runaway/missing children. He conducted a Freightliner truck giveaway for over 10 years with millions of game pieces being given out. Dulyn loved to go to Washington, D.C. and lobby Congress with Truck Stop owners and operators. Their mission was to make laws on the books enforced concerning the Diesel fuel color. They were successful. Upon leaving Gold Bond at age 70, he represented Motor Media in Alabama and later TVC PRO DRIVER. At the age of 77 he suffered a WEIRKNE Aphsia stroke and retired. In the mid 90's Dulyn and Pat helped buy and operate Centerville Dragway with her son, Wayne Styles. Dulyn loved to use his speech training and call the preliminary races on Sunday mornings. Throughout his lifetime, Dulyn loved to hunt birds, quail, dove, pheasant, duck and Sand Hill Cranes. He fished in Canada and in the rivers of Arkansas. Golf was his passion. As he said "his golf clubs were his briefcase" and he never left on a business trip without them. He was a founding member of the Maumelle Country Club. Before moving to Saline County in 2002, Dulyn was an active member of Winfield United Methodist Church, singing in the choir and serving on the Admin Council. In 2002, Pat and Dulyn moved their membership to her home church, Sardis and he continued to attend as often as possible. Gary Martin was Dulyn's constant companion for over four years until his own health failed. Gary would drive Dulyn to his speech classes three times weekly, or they would run around checking out the sights. They both loved to eat lunch at the East End Café or the new truck stop in Ico where they always ordered fried chicken because neither wife would prepare it for them. We were truly blessed with Michelle Metgzer came to care for him 18 months ago, followed by Brenda Roberts some six months later. These two ladies are wonderful! They cared for Dulyn in a loving manner even when he yelled at them. He called them his "girl friends and they were an important part of our life. The family wishes to thank the Saline Memorial Hospice team for the wonderful comfort care they provided these past three weeks. They eased the burden of care from Michelle, Brenda and Pat and gave them the much needed help to continue his care at home. A special thank you to the East End Fire Department for the many, many times they came to pick him up after a fall in the home. Funeral services will be 10 a.m., Saturday, February 25, 2012 at Sardis United Methodist Church with burial to follow at Pinecrest Cemetery on Hwy 5 in Alexander. Visitation will be Friday evening from 6 until 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Sardis United Methodist Church, 10715 West Sardis Road, Bauxite, Ark. 72011 or the East End Fire Department, 21900 Baxley Lane, Little Rock, Ark. 72206. Pallbearers will be grandsons, Jared Butler of Hawaii, Jason Butler of Vashon Island Wa., Monty J. Rodgers , Brandon Rodgers of Whitharral, Texas and C.J. Butler of Tuscola, Texas; grandson-in-law, Mike Pagel of Ponder, Texas and nephew, George Butler of Mannassass, Virginia. Honorary pallbearers will be the East End Fire Department. Arrangements by Memorial Gardens Funeral Home of Sheridan (8700942-1306. To sign the online guestbook, www.memorialgardenssheridan.com.