Below is an obituary from Bedford Funeral Home:
BEDFORD, MA — John Bruce Butler, 101, passed away peacefully on May 9, 2026, with his family by his side. John lived a remarkable life spanning more than a century. Born in Waltham, Massachusetts, John spent his early childhood in Wilmington, Massachusetts, before moving as a young teenager with his family to Rock Maple Farm in Fremont, New Hampshire. His father, William, worked in sales, and his mother, Georgia (Taber), was a realtor. Life on the farm shaped John and his brothers, William and James, instilling the resourcefulness and independence their father learned as a young boy growing up on farms in North Carolina and Kentucky.
John met his beloved wife, “Ellie” (Eleanor R. Smith), at a meeting of the First Baptist Church Youth Group in Brentwood, New Hampshire. They lived one town apart and John recounted riding his bike to see Ellie at the Smith family farm in Brentwood. Years later in 1948, after they both graduated from college, they exchanged vows in the very church where they first met. After living in central Pennsylvania and southern California, John and Ellie returned to New England and made their permanent home in Lexington, Massachusetts for 68 years, where they also raised their children, Bruce, John, and Robin. In 2023 they moved to Carleton-Willard Village in Bedford, Massachusetts. Last summer, John and Ellie celebrated their lifelong partnership and their 77th wedding anniversary.
John attended Colgate University through the V12 Navy College Training Program. He served in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War as a Captain with the 1st Marine Division and received an honorable discharge in 1952. He earned a Master of Science degree in Industrial Psychology from Pennsylvania State University. His professional career began in health services administration at Pennsylvania State University. This work led to positions as Director of Personnel and Director of Personnel Policy and Planning at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Later, John continued to draw on his extensive experience in personnel management and employee relations, consulting in organizational development and problem solving. A dedicated advocate for community service and advocacy for individuals with intellectual disabilities through the ARC of Massachusetts, John served in many leadership roles including the Cambridge Rotary Club, Baptist Homes of Massachusetts, Town of Lexington Personnel Advisory Board, and the First Baptist Church of Lexington.
Deeply committed to social justice, spirituality, and environmental stewardship, John loved thoughtful conversation and engaging with others about ideas and issues that mattered deeply to him. He was a philosopher, a pacifist and a pack rat. He often called himself a modern-day Johnny Appleseed, delighting in planting “seeds” of ideas and watching them grow. A lifelong learner and deep thinker, John was happiest surrounded by books, magazines, and newspapers. An avid reader, he frequently copied articles to share, either by email or by leaving them in a wicker basket by the front door to give to family and friends when they came to visit. His six grandchildren affectionately referred to these readings as “Grampa-grams.” His grandchildren say he taught them more than their formal education. Curious and forward-thinking, John was also an early adopter of technology, proudly owning an Apple llC computer and an early model Toyota Prius hybrid car, which he referred to as his ‘educational laboratory’. He was a lifelong Boston Red Sox fan and at 80 years of age, he finally witnessed the Red Sox win the 2004 World Series. His love for baseball lives on through his children and grandchildren.
John is predeceased by his loving wife Ellie and his siblings William Sherwood, baby Mary Louise, and James Stanley.
John is survived by his loving children: Bruce B. Butler of Lexington; John E. Butler and his wife, Jane, of Charlestown; and Robin B. DiGiammarino and her husband, Paul, also of Charlestown. He is also survived by his cherished grandchildren—Sandra (Kate), Tim (Emily), Lizzy (Phil), David (Kelly), Julia (Scott), Mark (Molly), and by ten great-grandchildren.
A private graveside service will be held in New Hampshire followed by a Memorial service on July 13, 2026, 3:15 PM, at Carleton-Willard Village in Bedford, Massachusetts.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Institute of Noetic Sciences in Novato, CA http://www.noetic.org or to Special Needs Art Program (SNAP) in Lexington, MA http://www.snaparts.org
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