Dr. William Walden Butterworth

Memories from Julie Clark, his great, great niece.

I am 74. I was 8 the first time I remember being with Uncle Will at his home on the Lakes near LSU in Baton Rouge. He was my father's great uncle; uncle to my grandmother and great aunt; their father's brother. Uncle Will mesmerized me.

He was 92 years old, very tall and lean, with a head of the most beautiful, thick auburn hair and no grey. None. He was very slightly stooped, as if he was intently listening. His voice, strong, clear, kind. Remember thinking, "He sounds different. Not like us." My Gran Gran and Great Auntie adored him. So obvious. Remembering grinning because they looked like I felt when I was with them. (Only granddaughter, Neice).

He showed us his small pecan orchard, wood working shop, but his wife (third one) we could not meet. She was invalid, asleep with daytime sitter with her. When it was time to go, I knew even as a spoiled tomboy, that this was a special beautiful person.

His wife died and he died at age 99. They had no children. Many years later, when so many had crossed over, I was fortunate enough to still have my precious Auntie. I would drive from Lake Charles to Baton Rouge, pick her up to spend time with my two children.
And the best part was she would T A L K.... Yep, finally. We had the best time. This little lady, an early follower of Dr Norman Vincent Peale, told our secrets, histories, and rattled a few skeletons stored away for years! She was adorable lady.

But for Uncle Will, only praise, respect, admiration and never ending love.
Here is the little bit I know. He married Maud, had the two children. When "The Fever" raged in New Orleans, wife and children went to his brother's farm near St Francisville. All three died there of the fever. Years later he remarried, another little girl, and the exact same thing happened. He lost that wife and child. Eventually, the third wife later in life who survived until Uncle Will was about 74. He died at his home after a stroke, age 99.

And I am fortunate to have memory of that beautiful, gentle soul. All his work for the children. Lost his. When I first learned of Job, I thought about Uncle Will.

~~~ Julie