Services for Reginald Delano Butler of Dudley who passed away Wednesday, June 22, 2016, will be held Saturday, June 25, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. in the chapel of Townsend Brothers Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Dublin Memorial Gardens.

Delano was born on March 29, 1934, to Doris Whittle Butler and Tom Watson Butler, now both deceased. He was the oldest of their four children and was reared in the Mount Carmel community. He and Barbara Cauthen were married on March 17, 1957 and shared 51 years together before her death in September of 2008. Delano retired from the F-15 SPM Division of Robins Air Force Base. He lived a servant-filled life. He served as Mayor of the City of Dudley for 18 years, as Councilman for 17 years, and as a Volunteer Fire Fighter for 17 years, which allowed him to be recognized as the longest serving public official for the City of Dudley since its incorporation.

Delano served in the National Guard for 10 years. He was an active deacon of the Dudley Baptist Church for more than 40 years, at which time the church honored him with the Deacon Emeritus status.

Delano and Judy Melvin were married on January 6, 2011. They continued to live in Dudley but joined his childhood church of Mount Carmel Baptist. He is survived by his wife, Judy, and his and Barbara's daughters and sons-in-law; Janet and Kenny Dean of Dudley, Deana and Russell Lord of Dudley; three grandchildren; Steven Dean and his wife Amy of Buford, Kristin Dean Logue and her husband Adam of Rentz and Shelley Lord Tanner and her husband Kenny of Dublin; five great-grandchildren, Logan and Landon Dean of Buford, Sadie and Rhett Logue of Rentz and Madilynn Tanner of Dublin. He is also survived by his step-children; Charles Melvin and his wife Melinda of Dudley, Harris Melvin and his wife Sharon of Buford and Wendy Melvin Howard and her husband Tripp of Bellevue, Washington; and his step-grandchildren; Kate and Cam Melvin of Dudley, Holly Melvin of Buford, and Sarah and Tommy Howard of Bellevue.

Delano is survived by his sisters Jimmie Butler of Cartersville and Colleen Williams and her husband Buddy of Dexter and his brother, Tommy Butler and his wife Betty of Dexter and their dear children and grandchildren.

The family will be forever grateful for the wonderful medical attention from loving caregivers.

Pallbearers will be Bobby Allen, James Giddens, Josh McCard, Bruce Miller, Roger Miller, and Bob Smith. Honorary pallbearers will be the Laurens County Fire Honor Guard.

The family will receive friends at Townsend Brothers Funeral Home on Friday from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.