Dr. James Wilford Butler, age 90 of Dublin, passed away on Thursday, September 17, 2015 at Serenity Place in Dublin, Georgia. Services will be held at 2:00PM on Sunday, September 20, 2015 in the Chapel of Townsend Brothers Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Dublin Memorial Gardens. Rev. Al Haywood will officiate. The family will receive friends and relatives one hour prior to the service at Townsend Brothers Funeral Home. Dr. Butler was born on November 5, 1924 in Laurens County, Georgia to the late James Wilburn Butler and the late Tessie Ree Hammock Butler. He was a Veteran of the United States Navy and Naval Reserves and achieved the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He was a graduate of Dublin High School and obtained his bachelor's degree at Georgia Tech and his master's degree from Baylor University in Texas and doctorate degree from Rice University in Texas. He also taught physics at Michigan State University. Dr. Butler was employed by the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. for over 40 years as a research physicist. He became well known internationally through his outstanding research and numerous publications in nuclear physics. He spent three years as part of an international scientist exchange program in Australia. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. and in his spare time enjoyed skiing and photography. He was a resident of Sheridan Senior Living Center in Dublin, GA from 2007 until 2015. At the time of his death, he resided at the Shamrock Nursing Home in Dublin. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Demettress Butler Sims of Texas and Dorothy Butler Herron of Dublin; a niece, Teresa Sims of Texas and a nephew, Mike Shepard of Florida. Survivors include his sister, Betty Butler Shepard of Dublin; six nieces and nephews; Russell Sims of San Diego, CA; Donna Herron Marsden of Windham, ME; Scott Shepard of Alexandria, VA; Robin Sims of Corpus Christi, TX; Jeff Herron of Mt. Vernon, GA; and Cynthia Sims of Bryan, TX; five great-nieces and nephews, several great-great- nieces and nephews, and numerous cousins. In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to Serenity Hospice, 520 Hillcrest Parkway, Dublin, GA 31021.