Edita V. Butler

Edita V. Butler, age 89, of Columbia, Maryland, passed away on November 15, 2018.

She was born on November 8, 1929, to Jose V. del Callar and Beata Brioso del Callar in Cabuyao City, Philippines.  She obtained a B.S. in Education at Maryknoll College in the Philippines and a Master’s in Library Science at the Catholic University of America.  At Catholic University, Edita met Robert W. Butler, whom she married in 1962.

Edita and Robert moved to Frederick, Maryland, where they started a family.  In 1974, they settled in Columbia, Maryland, where Edita focused on raising three children, pursuing her painting hobby, teaching religious education at St. John’s Catholic Church, and singing with the church choir.  In 1981, following separation from Robert, Edita went to work at Patuxent Publishing, first as an editor at the Columbia Flier and then as an editor and writer at the Laurel Leader.  Edita won several awards for her feature writing, including First Place in the National Newspaper Association’s Feature Story Contest for “Amendale Revisited” in 1985.

Edita went on to work as an editor at the University of Maryland Extension Service and as the Law Librarian at the Howard County Circuit Court.  She retired from the latter position in 2006.

Edita is survived by her daughter, Rita Pace, and son, Charles Butler; her grandchildren, Sofia Pace, Colin Butler, and Timothy Butler; and her sons-in-law, Tom Pace and Mark Rupp.  She was preceded in death by her ex-husband, Robert Butler; their first-born child, Robert Butler II; and their son, Robert Butler III.

A funeral mass will take place on Saturday, November 24, at 11:00am, at St. John’s Catholic Church, Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, 10431 Twin Rivers Rd, Columbia, Maryland.  A reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to the Winter Growth Assisted Living Facility at www.wintergrowthinc.org/general-donation-campaign/ 

Other condolences may be made at www.harrywitzkefuneralhome.com

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