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Ted Butler '49 June 7, 2019 9:37 AM updated: June 7, 2019 9:46 AM

Rhodes Funeral Home, Inc. obituary
115 S Esplanade St.
Karnes City, Texas 78118
Phone: 830-780-3334

Judge Marvin Butler
September 12, 1927 - June 04, 2012

Retired District Judge Marvin Teddy "Ted" Butler passed away June 4, 2012, at the age of 84. Judge Butler had a long and distinguished legal and political career that began in his home town of Karnes City, Texas. Judge Butler practiced law in Karnes County for a number of years with his partner, Judge John May. Butler was elected Karnes County Attorney in 1952, winning the first of a long series of successful election campaigns. In 1958, he was elected as Karnes County Judge, an office to which he was re-elected in 1962. In 1963, he accepted appointment as Assistant U.S. District Attorney and moved with his wife and three children to San Antonio. In 1969, he was appointed as the United States District Attorney for the Western District of Texas. Judge Butler was appointed by Governor Preston Smith as the Criminal District Attorney of Bexar County in 1969, a position which he successfully retained in two contested elections. In 1977, he was appointed by Governor Dolph Briscoe as Judge of the 226th District Court in Bexar County, an office he held until his retirement in 1988. Judge Butler was a veteran of the United States Army and a graduate of Baylor University School of Law. He was a proud member of the Butler family that has been cattle ranching in Karnes County since 1850. He enjoyed tending to his cattle and hosting his family and friends at his Karnes County ranch. He was a devoted and loving father, grandfather, and great grandfather, and was a loyal and faithful friend to many people. Judge Butler was predeceased by his parents, Marvin and Hattie Butler and his sister, Martha Butler. He is survived by his children Melinda Beckett and her husband, Lamont Beckett, Richard Butler and his wife Tina Butler, Julie Beck and her husband, August H. Beck III; his grandchildren Clinton Butler, Dustin Butler, August Beck and Annie Shuler; his great grandchildren Danny Butler, Ricky Butler, Isabella Butler, Gus Beck, Kierstyn Beck, Jimmie Shuler, and Ted Shuler; and by his brother, William L. Butler and his wife, Betty Butler. Judge Butler is also survived by nieces Sue Carter and Patricia Literati, and nephews William G. Butler and Robert L. Butler. Judge Butler's funeral will be held at Rhodes Funeral Home in Karnes City on Saturday, June 9, beginning at 11:00 a.m. Memorial gifts in lieu of flowers may be made to Boysville in San Antonio (www.boysvilletexas.org).


SERVICES

Funeral Service
Saturday, June 09, 2012

Rhodes Funeral Home Chapel
115 S. Esplanade
karnes city, tx 78118


Interment
Saturday, June 09, 2012

Karnes City Cemetery

karnes city, tx 78118
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Published in San Antonio Express-News

Butler, former district judge, dies at 84
By Desiree Canela Updated 11:47 pm CDT, Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Retired state District Judge Marvin Teddy “Ted” Butler had a lengthy career in law and politics.

He died Monday of several ailments at the age of 84.

“My dad had been a pretty high-profile political figure when he was district attorney and was a popular district attorney because he was elected twice. I guess he was a pretty formidable politician that people didn't want to run against,” said his son, Richard Butler.

Born into a Karnes County ranching family, Butler attended Texas A&M University briefly before he was called to serve in the Army at the tail end of World War II.

After the war, he attended Baylor Law School, where he earned his law degree and met his future wife, Ann.

After they married, the couple lived for 14 years in Karnes City, where Butler practiced law for several years with his partner, Judge John May, and was county attorney.

He was elected Karnes County judge in 1958 and re-elected in 1962.

He moved to San Antonio in 1963 when he was appointed assistant U.S. Attorney, where he worked under the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Texas, Ernest Morgan.

When Morgan resigned in 1969, Butler was appointed to his position.

Shortly afterward, then-Gov. Preston Smith appointed him criminal district attorney of Bexar County, a position he retained through two contested elections.

In 1977, Butler was appointed judge of the 226th District Court in Bexar County by then-Gov. Dolph Briscoe. Butler held the office until health problems caused him to retire in 1988.

“He had a lot of great people work under him. Many of the people who were on the judicial bench in Bexar County served as assistant district attorneys for my dad. The present district attorney, Susan Reed, was one of his assistants. He had a lot of great staff that he was always very grateful for,” his son said.

After retirement, Butler lived on and off at his Karnes County ranch, a family institution since 1850. He enjoyed tending to his cattle and hosting family gatherings there, family members said.

“He loved the political and social gatherings that came along with his job. He had many friends and kept in close touch with the Karnes City and San Antonio communities long after he retired,” his son said.

dcanela@express-news.net


More Information

Marvin Teddy Butler

BORN: Sept. 12, 1927, San Antonio

DIED: June 4, 2012, San Antonio

PRECEDED BY: His sister, Martha Butler.

SURVIVED BY: Daughters Melinda Beckett of Comfort and Julie Beck of San Antonio; son Richard Butler of Karnes City; grandchildren Clinton Butler, Dustin Butler, August Beck and Annie Shuler; brother William L. Butler; great-grandchildren Danny Butler, Ricky Butler, Isabella Butler, Gus Beck, Kierstyn Beck, Jim Shuler and Ted Shuler.


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