Craig Butterfield Obituary

Butterfield
Craig Wills
Butterfield
April 24, 1933
November 26, 2022

Craig Wills Butterfield age 89 passed away peacefully in his sleep on November 25, 2022.
Craig was born on April 24, 1933, in Middlebury, Vermont to Darrell and Helen Butterfield. Craig was an active boy and was in charge of hoeing 9 acres of their land's Victory Garden during the war.
Craig enjoyed snow skiing and took every opportunity to do so. He became quite a talented skier and was asked to try out for the Olympic Team but went into serve in the Army at that time and eventually became Captain. Craig was proud of his military service and always thanked all servicemen no matter where he was.
Craig graduated from Middlebury High school and went on to college graduating with a Civil Engineering degree from Norwich University in Vermont where we worked as a cook in a fraternity house as a way to pay for his college.
Soon after Craig started his engineering career, he started Engineers Incorporated of Vermont where he also had the chance to own a paving company also. Realizing paving was limited to a few months a year in snowy Vermont, he purchased a small paving company in Mt. Dora Florida, Superior Asphalt in 1975 and moved the family down to Eustis, Florida. He owned and worked at Superior Asphalt until he retired.
Craig's first marriage gave him the blessing of three great children, Alan Butterfield, Danny Butterfield and Linda Butterfield. Craig loved kids, rough housing with them, playing with the family dog, laughing and later in life being a guiding force for his kids throughout their lives.
Craig met Elaine in Burlington, Vermont and got married April 4, 1972. They just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this in April this year surrounded by family and many friends and even danced to their favorite love song, Somewhere My Love.
Craig adopted Elaine's two children, Dawn Butterfield and Doug Butterfield. Craig's love for children was evident in the charities he supported throughout his life and the young people whose lives he touched and mentored.
Craig and Elaine's marriage was a very loving, joyful, supportive, and a true partnership. After building their retirement dream home in Florida a year or so later they felt God telling them to move to Colorado to volunteer for Focus on the Family. Craig ensured the house they built in Colorado Springs had much room for other volunteers, family, friends and even people just needing a place to stay for a while.
Craig's volunteer activities were numerous as in Eustis, Florida he was very active as a Deacon at the First Baptist Church of Eustis, and served the church in many capacities, even including driving the bus for the children. In retirement in Colorado Springs Craig made volunteering a full-time job and became very active at Academy Christian Church where people even refer to one chair at the church as "Craig's chair". He also served as an elder at ACC for a number of years. Craig's volunteering even expanded to the Colorado Police Department and most recently for the Fire Department.
Craig's hobbies were numerous, and he was excited to snow ski again and won medals in a few Senior competitions. He loved playing golf, going to the Air Force Academy games, reading, especially spy novels and the Bible, and enjoying all of the places and activities of his new chosen hometown of Colorado Springs offered. He and Elaine got to do some traveling, especially enjoying riverboat cruises. He was very excited he got to go to Israel and see all of the places discussed in the Bible.
Craig was always a generous man and touched many lives, many of which would not know who it was who helped them. If he saw a need he met it as he was trusting God's guidance and prayed for opportunities to come his way where he could help. He started the Butterfield Foundation so this act of giving can continue.
His faith was a guiding factor in his life and was evident to anyone/everyone he met. We can celebrate knowing he is with the Lord.
Craig leaves behind his wife, Elaine Butterfield, his children, Alan Butterfield and wife Jennifer of Colorado Springs, Danny Butterfield of Albuquerque New Mexico, Linda Butterfield of Jamestown, Tennessee, Dawn Butterfield and husband Duane Scarborough of Cocoa, Florida and Doug Butterfield of Umatilla Florida.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Academy Christian Church, 1635 Old Ranch Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80908. Friday, December 9th at 11am.