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Dennis L. Butler January 20, 1931 - July 9, 2022

Dennis L. Butler, 91, U. S. A. Air Force Colonel (RET.), passed away on July 9, 2022, at Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar Crest hospice unit. He was born on January 20, 1931, to W. Ralph and Avis (Byfield) Butler. He graduated from high school in Howard KS. The week after his 18th birthday, he enlisted in the Army. While stationed in Japan, Denny took a test to enter the United States Military Academy at West Point NY. He graduated from West Point in 1956 and then entered the Air Force. After many flight training schools, he was sent to Morocco. Denny had to eject from a plane into the mountains and was rescued by Moroccan natives. His next assignment took him to Udorn Air Force Base in Thailand where he flew 160 missions over North Vietnam; 52 of those missions were flown in 53 days. He was awarded the Silver Star on July 31, 1967, for gallantry in action. After a full career in the Air Force, Denny joined Boeing Aircraft in 1978. He assembled a team to develop software for the B-52 weapons system and later the same for the V-22 Osprey vertical aircraft. After a full career at Boeing, he retired and he and his sister, Juana, made many lovely trips together, including one adventure to Antarctica. He is survived by his loving companion and best friend, Janet Berges, children, Dennis, Jr., Tulsa OK, Beth Eslick, Broken Arrow OK, Brenda Thompson, Monroe NC, Michael, Wichita KS, Dara, Cobourg, Ontario Canada, Scott, Pittsburg KS, sister, Juana Handy, WA, brother, James, Las Vegas NV, ten grandchildren, six great grandchildren. He was predeceased by daughter, Christine, in 1971. Services: 11 AM Saturday, August 6th at STEPHENS FUNERAL HOME, INC. 274 N. Krocks Rd. Allentown. Call 10:30 AM until service time. Private interment will be in Arlington National Cemetery.

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