Irvin "Butch" Whittler's Obituary
Irvin F. "Butch" Whittler, 62, of Columbia, slept into the arms of Jesus on Tuesday August 11, 2015 at Boone Hospital Center in Columbia. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, August 18, 2015 at the Latter House Ministries at 10:00AM. A visitation will be held from 5-8 PM at Woodcrest Chapel on Monday August 17, 2015.
Irvin Francis Brown Jr. Whittler was born in Philadelphia, PA on June 10, 1953 to Irvin Francis Brown, Sr. and Elizabeth Mae Bass.
Irvin, fondly referred to as Butch, attended Columbia Public Schools and was a proud graduate of Hickman High School. He served as the President of the 1971 Graduating Class. Throughout his childhood, he was involved with 4-H at the county, state and national levels. He became the first Black 4-H President for the State of Missouri. He received his Bachelor and Master Degrees from Lincoln University in Jefferson City, MO.
Butch began his career in education by teaching in the Boston, MA Public School District for three years. He returned to Columbia, MO and worked at West Jr. High School for 18 years in several positions including Counsellor, Home School Communicator, and Dean of Student Activities. In 2001, he received the NAACP Teacher of the Year Award.
While working on his Master's Degree, he met Kay, his loving and faithful wife of 21 years and they resided in Columbia, MO.
Upon retirement from the Columbia Public School system in 2004, he began working as the Northeast Region Field Service Coordinator with the Missouri State Teachers' Association until his death.
In addition, he served on the executive boards of several non-profit organizations including The 4-H Foundation and The Great Circle. He was an elder and minister at The Latter House Kingdom Ministries. Butch also worked as a Funeral Director for H. T. May and Son Funeral Homes.
Survivors include his wife Kay of the home, his daughter Candias (Marcel) Hardin, three grandsons Maurice, Tre, and Bryce Banks of Columbia, MO; two sisters, Barbra (David) Horrell of Columbia, MO and Robin (Homer) Butler of Des Moines, IA; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, co-workers and friends.
He was proceeded in death by his mother Elizabeth Bass (Jackmon), his father Irvin Francis Brown, Sr., his father, Robert Whittler; his nephew Robert (Ricardo) Simmons.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Latter House Childcare Center.
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