ARLINGTON — Friends and family of Dick Butner gathered at Weller Funeral Home May 29 to share their memories of a man who made public service his nearly lifelong vocation.

Dick’s wife, Barb, recalled her husband of 30 years as “an extraordinary man” and a “pillar of strength” who was “complicated, fun-loving, compassionate and always willing to lend a helping hand to those that needed it.”

Barb described Dick as a family man who took great pride in his children’s accomplishments, including the families that they started, and who cherished his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

“He may not have always shown it, but he was very proud of them,” Barb said. “He never missed the chance to be the proud papa and grandfather.”

Barb noted that Dick always tempered his law enforcement duties with kindness, becoming a mentor even to some of those whom he’d arrested, and buying shoes and winter coats for complete strangers.

In addition to being “an all-around wonderful human being” who was “selfless to a fault,” Barb praised Dick for writing her poetry and “leaving little notes all over the house that made me laugh.” She confessed that it was hard for her to say goodbye to someone who had served as her strength and made her feel so cherished.

“He was always there when I needed him, and at times when I didn’t, just hovering, making sure I was alright,” Barb said.

Larry Butner recalled Dick as an attentive father, even if he did sometimes get his wires crossed.

“The last time we spoke was on May 10,” Larry said. “He called me up and said, ‘Happy birthday!’ I told him that he needed to call [my brother] Jeff instead,” he laughed.

Bob Leonard became Dick’s son-in-law after he married Dick’s daughter Teresa, and he reflected on the impact that his father-in-law had on him.

“We were both in the Army when we first met, and she was on the pay phone with her dad when he said, ‘Let me talk to that guy,'” Bob said. “He asked me, ‘Why don’t you come out here with her to see us?’ I did, and it changed the course of my life.”

While Larry touted Dick’s faith, Bob claimed Teresa had inherited Dick’s love of chocolate, which inspired them to pass out bars of chocolate after the service.

“He used to brag on all of his kids, even his daughter,” said Dick’s other son, Rick Butner. “What I don’t think he realized was that we all bragged on him, every chance we got, whether it was to those who knew him as a police sergeant or a city councilman.”

Rick credited his father with setting such a good example as a father, inspiring his all five of his children to have successful long-term marriages of their own.

Jeff Butner shared a slightly more saucy side of his dad, from his days of riding along with Dick as a cop.

“He never said the F-word at home, so the first time I heard him say it, it blew me away,” Jeff laughed. “We’d sit up on the hill above downtown and watch the drunks. My dad knew them, but he would take them home. That’s the kind of cop he was.”

Larry thanked the city for its many gestures of respect following Dick’s passing My 15, from lowering the flag to half-staff to police placing black tape on their badges in his honor.

“I was at Starbucks with my sister, and there are always some cops there,” Larry chuckled. “I saw the black tape on their badges, and asked them about it, and they told me they’d lost a former officer, so I told them it was my dad.”

Mayor Barb Tolbert summed up Dick Butner as “a profile in servant leadership, very quiet and humbled about his accomplishments,” who carefully considered his decisions and did what he could on his own, including personally cleaning up graffiti.