1952
William "Bill"
2024
William "Bill" Arden Butz
April 22, 1952 — April 1, 2024
Indianapolis
Bill was born William Arden Butz on April 22, 1952, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He graduated from Heritage Christian High School in 1971 and attended Indiana Business College. Bill married Dotsie Rybolt in September 1974; they had two children together, Bill Jr. and Julie. Bill married Betsy Zinn in March 1986; they had two children together, Jason and David.
Bill grew up attending Meridian Street United Methodist Church. He was an active member of the church for many years and was involved in multiple special areas, including the youth group and Camp Otto. As an adult, he loved driving the youth groups to various activities and trips around the country. Bill was devoted to Camp Otto, a camp formerly owned by the church and located in Cloverdale, Indiana. He served as chair of the Camp Otto Committee for numerous years and played a key role in the camp's oversight, maintenance, and success. In his time as a bus driver for the church, he found a special joy in taking the youth group and inner-city groups to Camp Otto. Bill enjoyed spending time with his family at Camp Otto every summer.
Bill was a lifelong soccer fan, having played in high school. He was instrumental in starting the youth soccer program at Meridian Street UMC in the mid-1970s and coached teams for several years. Bill's passion for soccer extended to the Indy Eleven. He was a season ticket holder from their first season onward, rarely missing a home game.
Bill worked in the lumber industry for most of his life, primarily as a salesman at Butz Lumber Company Inc., which his father started, and later at Hall and House Lumber Company and Carter Lumber. Bill was known by builders and homeowners around Indianapolis and was admired for his honest and direct style. At times, Bill was called in for his expertise and creative thinking to consult on buildings with structural issues and how best to repair them. He had been called the best at estimating lumber in Indianapolis. Bill took immense pride in being able to point out the numerous homes for which he had supplied lumber.
Bill was devoted to his family and enjoyed spending time with them by the pool, while working on home improvement projects, at holidays and other gatherings, or whenever someone stopped by. Bill was a storyteller, always sharing stories of childhood misadventures, youth group outings, soccer, racing, and his interactions with people throughout his life. His stories will be sorely missed, but live on through those who have heard them.
Bill is survived by his wife, Betsy Butz; his children, Bill Jr. (Amber) Butz, Julie Butz, Jason Butz (Katie Ulmer), and David (Cayla) Butz; his grandchildren, Chloe, Gabriel, Arden, Benjamin, and foster grandchild; his brothers, Tom and Steve (Barbara) Butz.
He was preceded in death by his parents, F. Edward and Eloise.
Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Bill's name to Fletcher Place Community Center or the American Cancer Society.
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