Gerald Valentine Butler, Jr., 81, of Nashua, passed away peacefully Wednesday evening, February 16, 2022, at St. Joseph Hospital after a period of declining health.
Born in Colorado Springs, Colorado on December 20, 1940, he was the eldest son of the late Gerald V. and Jean (Owen) Butler. After graduating from high school, Jerry attended USC in the NROTC program from 1958 to 1961. He then served with the Navy aboard the USS Ranger from 1961 to 1962. Later, he earned his degree at Stanford Business School in California.
Jerry was a senior executive and computer pioneer for over forty years. He was associated with companies including Lawrence Radiation, Digital Equipment Corporation, Culler Scientific, Prime Computers and Brite Voice Technologies. His work took him across the world to Japan, Switzerland, and Venice.
A resident of Nashua and Hollis since 1994, Jerry had also made his home in Irvine and Santa Barbara, California; Acton, Dover and Harvard, Massachusetts; and Amherst, New Hampshire.
Jerry served as Director of Ministry Effectiveness and was a dedicated member of Crossway Christian Church of Nashua. In his leisure time, he enjoyed jogging, computing, and traveling in his RV across the country. Jerry will be remembered as a loving, faithful and dedicated man of God. He was funny and punny, passionate, kind, gentle, sentimental, strong, hardworking, intelligent, and patriotic. Jerry left an enormous legacy.
In addition to his parents, Jerry was predeceased by his wife of 49 years, JoAnne (Geasland) Butler, who passed away in January, 2009.
Members of his family include his wife, Joyce Gathoni Butler; his four children, Gerald V. Butler III, Katharyn Raper and her husband Stephen, Elizabeth Butler, Laura Nashawaty and her husband Michael; nine grandchildren, five great-grandchildren; a brother, David Butler; a sister, Bonnie Butler; also, several nieces and nephews.
A service is being planned and will be held at Crossway Christian Church on Monday, March 14th at 11:00 a.m. Please send donations in Jerry’s name to Crossway Christian Church at 503 Main Dunstable Road, Nashua, NH 03062. To send an online message of condolence, please visit www.farwellfuneralservice. Arrangements are in the care of the FARWELL FUNERAL SERVICE, 18 Lock Street, Nashua.
