Mr. Edgar John Butschek's Obituary
Edgar Butschek was born in Hackberry, TX February 7, 1919, the second of nine children born to Henry and Susie (Kubena) Butschek. Before starting their own family, Henry and Susie had adopted the three children of Virgil and Wilhelmina (Butschek) Calcote when Henry’s sister died young. Devotion to family, community and education were continuing themes in Edgar’s life. He started school at age five at St. Andrews Chapel, a two-room building adjacent to the civil war cemetery in Hackberry, where he nearly drowned in the water well. In December 1924, the growing Butschek family moved by buggy to the spacious Moore House in Moulton, TX. Here Edgar attended St. Joseph’s Catholic School, where he served as chief altar boy for stern Monseigneur Joseph Kopp. Edgar graduated as “highest boy in a class of nine” from the Sam and Will Moore Institute High School and was granted a tuition scholarship to Schreiner Institute, a two-year college in Kerrville, TX. Edgar was blessed with self-confidence and imagination. At Schreiner, he continually made the honor roll while holding down four jobs to meet living expenses. He graduated from Texas A& M College in 1940 with a BS in Business Administration, and proudly wore his Aggie ring for 72 years. In 1942 at the start of WWII, Edgar left his job in the Accounting Department of Humble Oil & Refining Co., Baytown, TX to enlist in the United States Navy as a common seaman. With luck and perseverance, Edgar was flagged for Officer Candidate School. As a “ninety-day wonder,” he attended Notre Dame University and was commissioned an Ensign. During WWII, he commanded a minesweeper clearing harbors from Australia to the Philippines until the war’s end in 1945. Edgar returned briefly to civilian life, but a speech by then Senator Lyndon Baines Johnson convinced him to make the Navy his career. He first served in the Supply Corps aboard the USS Thuban delivering cargo to Japan and carrying seal oil and fur from the Pribilof Islands, Alaska. Over his 21-year stint in the Navy Ed was stationed in Pearl Harbor, HI, Guam, MI, Monterrey, CA, and Washington, DC. During the Kennedy Administration, as creator of the Navy Area Audit Office, Edgar was assigned to the Central Intelligence Agency. In 1962 he completed an MS in Business Management from American University. The following year he retired from the Navy and started a second 21-year career with Texas Instruments, Dallas, TX as Asst. Comptroller and later as Materials Mgr. in the Geo-Physical Services. He retired again in 1984 and started his own financial consulting business, E-Z Financial Services. From boyhood Edgar wanted to be a businessman (not a farmer) and was intrigued by politics. He brought industry, commitment and pride to his profession life. A determined (some say stubborn) negotiator, he strived to be courteous and ethical. A lifelong volunteer, he was at various times: President, Texas A&M Club, Washington, DC; President, North Springfield, VA Little League Association; Deputy Grand Knight, Knights of Columbus, Council 6065, Plano, TX; President, Richardson and North Dallas Coalition, Richardson, TX; and board member of the North Dallas Neighborhood Alliance, Catholic Diocesan Pro-Life Committee, and the Valley View Homeowners Association. In the sweltering heat of Port Arthur, TX, in July 1945, Edgar married Zina Lachausse, whom he loved and cared for over 66 years. He is survived by his devoted wife, as well as by: daughter Toni (Butschek) Williamson and husband Sam; son James Mark Butschek and wife Barbe; and son Lawrence Vincent Butschek and wife Jill. He and Zina have eight grandchildren-Courtney Trent, Allison Ivey, Michelle Spencer, Chelsea Butschek, Catherine Massie, Lauren Neisler, Micheal Butschek, and Taylor Butschek-and seven great-grandchildren-Ian and Seth Davis, Christina and Lauren Spencer, Jillian and Hayden Neisler, and James Castillo; also by four brothers-John, Matthew, Allan and Robert-and by his sister Eleanor (Tiny). He was preceded in death by his loving parents, his three Calcote cousins-Virgil, Pearl and Edith-by his brothers Henry and George and his sister Henrietta. Visitation and recitation of the Rosary will be from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, Monday, February 13, at Restland Funeral Home. Mass and a Christian burial will be at 2:00 PM, Tuesday, February 14, at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, Richardson, TX. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: Catholic Pro-Life Committee P. O. Box 59852 Dallas, TX 75229 cplc@prolifedallas.org or White Rose Women’s Center 8499 Greenville Avenue Dallas, TX 75231 whiterosewomenscenter.org Over and out!
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