William J. "Bill" Buttler

Published in the Star-Ledger on 3/31/2009

William J. "Bill" Buttler, 67, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, March 29, 2009.

Relatives and friends are invited to visiting hours at the Countryside Funeral Home, 724 Route 202 N., Three Bridges, N.J. 08887, on Wednesday, April 1, 2009, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m.

A celebration of life service will be held on Thursday, April 2, at 10:30 a.m. at The Grand Colonial Restaurant, 86 W. State Hwy. 173, Hampton, N.J. 08827, with a luncheon immediately following.

At the family's request disposition will be handled privately. To send condolences to the family or sign an online guest book, please visit CountrysideFuneralHome.com.

Bill was a devoted husband and friend to his wife, Laurie; a loyal and loving son and brother; a loving dad; a joyful grandfather; a terrific son-in-law, brother-in-law and uncle; a generous and caring employer, and a dear friend to many. He will be missed and celebrated always.

Bill was born in New Brunswick, N.J., the son of William Francis and Elizabeth Buttler, and graduated from New Brunswick High School in 1960.

After graduation, he was signed by and played briefly for the Boston Red Sox organization.

He began a career in land surveying, eventually founding his own firm, Control Layouts, in 1972, which now has two locations, in Highland Park and Clinton. He was a member of both the New Jersey and the Pennsylvania Professional Land Surveyors Societies, as well as various other professional organizations.

Bill moved to the Hunterdon area in 1977, where he raised his family, and was active in various youth baseball organizations as a coach and manager. He was an avid golfer, counting among his dear friends many golfers who shared his love of the game and his love of life.

Bill was a member of Stanton Ridge Golf and Country Club in Readington, N.J., and The Landings Club in Savannah, Ga.

He is survived by his wife, Laurie (Garthwaite) Buttler; daughter, Traci Wood, and son-in-law, William Wood of Spring, Texas; son, William Buttler Jr. of Las Vegas; son, Michael and daughter-in -law, Laura Buttler, of Clinton, and Patrick Buttler of Lake Como, N.J., as well as his grandchildren, Jacob Wood, Katelyn Wood and Ryan Buttler. He is also survived by his mother, Elizabeth Buttler of Somerset, and his sister, Judith A. Buttler of Ocean Grove, NJ.

He was predeceased by his father, William Francis. Bill will also be missed by his extended family: his father and mother-in-law, Robert and Barbara Garthwaite of Forked River, N.J.; brothers and sisters-in-law, Lynn Olsen of Pawling, N.Y., Lucinda Garthwaite of Plainfield, Vt., Robert and Julie Garthwaite of Shamong, N.J., Sandra Benson of Big Bear Lake, Calif., Jonathan and Julie Garthwaite of Canaan, N.H., and nieces and nephews, Ryan and Jennifer Olsen, Kaitlin, Chelsea, Molly and Hailey Garthwaite, Nicholas Benson and Nicholas Talbert.

Memorial contributions may be made in Bill's name to the Wellness Community of Central Jersey, 3 Crossroads Drive, Bedminster, N.J., 07921, or the Jason P. Schaible Memorial Fund, 54 Norma Rd., Hampton, N.J. 08827.