George William Butterfly

George "Butterfly" W. Butterfly, surrounded by love, passed away November 23, 2017.  Born in Swanton, VT, July 17, 1950.  Raised in Rutland, VT, he graduated from Mt. Saint Joseph Academy having earned the title of Class Clown.

He enlisted in the US Air Force serving five years during the Vietnam era.  After his discharge, he started a cab company in Anchorage AK, where he met his wife, Glenda.  He attended the University of Alaska graduating with a degree in Social Services.  He started a halfway home (The Covenant House) which is still open.  He and Glenda married  April 20, 1986.  They purchased a motorhome and left  Alaska for a fresh start in January of 1987.  They traveled throughout the states and stopped in Fayetteville to begin their new life.

He worked at Dorthea Dix in Raleigh for three years.  The commute wore on him, so he got a job in Fayetteville working with troubled kids.  He gave his heart and soul to his clients.  To this day, they fondly remember "Butterfly".

He started "Butterflys Mobile Golf and Games", built a miniature golf course and other games, traveled the east coast having fun with children, letting the parents play free.  It made his heart happy to see families playing together.  After a decade of fun he donated the games to a church and volunteered at the new coliseum, The Crown.  He became "Puckhead", the unofficial mascot of the Fayetteville Force and FireAntz Hockey teams. he was "Dinger" and "Mr. Fun" for our local minor league baseball team, and "Cpl Punishment" for indoor football.  he was an entertainer at heart.

He wanted to be his own boss again so he started selling antiques online.  In his spare time, he enjoyed woodworking.  When he wasn't playing golf, racquetball or baseball, he volunteered at Operation Inasmuch, at Animal Services fostering dogs who needed TLC, and joined Massey Hill Community Watch saying "I'm going to make a difference in our community."  he became the vice president of the Watch where he learned and grew more earnest in his endeavors.  He entered the Citizen's Academy and joined city boards to help in anyway he could.  When he met someone in need, he was there.  He befriended a WWII Veteran who was in need of a wheelchair,  He realized a need so he started a non-profit, Operation Wheelchair, loaning wheelchairs to those with a need.  It was this he found to be the most satisfying to his heart and soul.

When he found that cancer returned, he became more focused on helping others.  he decided to run for City Council and on election day was hospitalized and had to laugh that he couldn't even vote for himself.  When all treatments failed, he returned home to be with his family and friends and to help who he could.

He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Glenda H. Butterfly of the home; his daughter, who held his heart from the moment she entered this world, Nickole  "Rabbit" Pennington of Hope Mills; and a grandson, who he was so very proud of, Derick "Squirrel" Pennington of Colorado Springs, Colo.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his big sister, Elaine and her husband, Bud Pecor; a sister, Marie Reynolds; and a brother, Leonard Donahue.

A celebration of his life will be held from 6 pm to 8 pm Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at the Massey Hill Community Center 1612 Camden Rd. Fayetteville.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Butterfly's Operation Wheelchair, 538 Mayview St. Fayetteville, NC 28306 which will continue to aid those in need.

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