BUTTERFIELD, FRANKLIN W.
Franklin Wells Butterfield was born at Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Fairbanks on Feb. 4, 1927, and passed away on April 9, 2013. He was 86.
He was a husband, a father and a soldier who faithfully served his country. At the age 14, he left home and joined the U.S. Marine Corps, where he served in the South Pacific with Carlson’s Raiders on Guadalcanal and other World War II beachheads. His name is forever immortalized on the Marine Corps Raiders Door in the Raiders Hall at Quantico, Va. During his time in service, he earned a Silver Star and three Purple Hearts, Bronze Star, World War II Victory Medal and two Presidential Unit Citations.
He was on leave at the age of 16, in San Francisco, when he met Charlotte Ann Stanfill and they married in Reno, Nev., May of 1943. After leaving the Marines he returned to Fairbanks, until he was called up for the Navy. He received the National Defense Service Ribbon, Navy Occupation Service Medal with Europe Clasp.
During his time in the military, he earned an Electronics Engineering Degree and a Civil West Coast for different companies, before returning to Alaska in the early 1960s. He was working at the University of Alaska Fairbanks during the first winter climb on Mount McKinley, for which he designed and built their radio communications equipment. Later he worked for the state of Alaska Dept. of Transportation where he helped design and build roads in the interior.
He is preceded in death by his Wife, Charlotte Ann Butterfield; Daughter, Norma Annette Pullin of Idaho; and adopted son, Franklin Scott Butterfield of Fairbanks.
He is survived by his daughters, Karen Wells Sapp of Wasilla, Frances Evonne White of Arizona, Regina Susan Marshal of Arizona, Grace Arlene Gugliotti of California; daughter-in-law, and friend and caregiver Monica Butterfield of Fairbanks; son, Franklin Terry Butterfield of Fairbanks; and grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Frank was a lifetime member of Pioneers of Alaska and a member of the Grand Lodge of New Mexico Ancient Free and Accepted Masons Deming Lodge No. 12 Est. 1883.
He will surely be missed by us all. Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m., April 16 at Chapel of Chimes on Illinois St. in Fairbanks. Graveside services with military honors at Birch Hill Cemetery will be announced at a later date in the spring.
Arrangements were entrusted to Chapel of Chimes Funeral Home.