Margaret “Peggy” Jeanne (Korb) Butler, 77
Published 4:18 pm Friday, May 19, 2023
Margaret “Peggy” Jeanne (Korb) Butler, 77, of Danville, Kentucky, passed away on May 17, 2023 after a nearly five-year prolonged battle with cancer. Peggy was born on December 25, 1945, to Sam William Korb and Phyllis Jeanne (Chaille) Korb in Evansville, Indiana. After Peggy graduated from high school, she went on to study nursing at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville. Shortly after graduating from nursing school, she joined the U.S. Navy Nurse Corp at the age of twenty-one, partly as a nod of respect for her father, who was a U.S. Air Force Veteran of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Another large contributor for her decision to serve was Peggy’s dissatisfaction with how Vietnam veterans were treated upon returning home. Peggy’s 29 years of Navy service included over 2 years of active duty split between the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm. Her remaining years of service were spent on reserve status while dedicating 25 years to teaching nursing students at Bluegrass Community and Technical College. Peggy retired from teaching and the Navy Reserve in the late 1990’s while recently having been the commanding officer of her Navy Reserve unit and having attained the rank of Captain. Most who got to know Peggy realized she was an extraordinarily strong woman. But unless you happened to be remarkably close with her, you may have not realized that at times Peggy needed compassion, caring, and love just like most of us. She was fond of the saying, “time to put on your big-girl britches.” And she lived that life, perfectly exemplified, when she was called up for active duty in the sands of Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm. She would not have traded her experience, with the camaraderie, creativity, amazing spirit, dedication, and grit of military personnel she served with for anything. In her personal life, Peggy also chose to marry a soldier. She met her future husband on a blind date in Danville, Kentucky. Peggy and Jimmie Lee Butler were married in June 1976 and raised two children: Warren Korb Butler and James Parrish Butler. In retirement Peggy enjoyed attending mass and volunteering at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church. Peggy was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution through her father (Sam). She was always proud to say, her son (Parrish) and granddaughter (Molly) followed her footsteps in nursing (as she did with her own mother Phyllis Jeanne), while her son (Warren) and grandson (Zach) both went the way of the Navy. Peggy was a dedicated mother and grandmother. She thoroughly enjoyed spending time with her two sons, their wives, and total of four grandchildren. When not doting on her grandchildren, she would often spend time with close friends in and around Danville. Jim (with blessed assistance of his brother Bart and sister-in-law Sherry) was by Peggy’s side during her last weeks in this world along with other family and close friends. She passed peacefully at home. Peggy was predeceased by her parents and her youngest sister Beverly Ann Verdon (Kevin). In addition to Jim, her devoted husband of 46 years, Peggy is survived by her sister Suzanne Elizabeth Collins; her sons Warren Korb Butler (Kelly) and James Parrish Butler (Elizabeth); and grandchildren Zachary Butler, Molly Butler, Jake Butler, and Elizabeth “Ella” Butler. Visitation will be held at SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church on Tuesday, May 23 at 10:00am, immediately followed by the funeral mass at 12:00 Noon officiated by Father Anthony McLaughlin. Burial will be held at Camp Nelson National Cemetery on Friday, May 26, 2023 at 1:30pm with full military honors. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Heritage Hospice, an organization Peggy felt strongly about.