Butt, Albin Trant

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Albin Trant (Beany) Butt, 80, of Blacksburg died Wednesday, April 18, 2007. He was born in Portsmouth, Va., on October 5, 1926 to the late Ada Trant Butt and Alexander Bruce Butt, Jr.

He was also predeceased by a sister, Marjorie Butt Payne and a niece Susan Payne Haden. He was a life scout, designed, built and flew gasoline powered model airplanes in competition, built his own sail boat and sailed it in Regattas, was a World War II veteran having served in Germany as a member of the U.S. Eighth Air Force.

A 1952 graduate of Virginia Tech; he worked in the human resources field for 40 years, 25 of those as Personnel Director at Tech. He retired from Virginia Tech as Assistant Vice President and Employee Relations Director Emeritus. As a 25 year member of the Public Personnel Association, he served as their National Vice President and Southern Regional Chair during which time he received their Outstanding Achievement Award and Distinguished Service Award. He was a member of the Virginia Governors Personnel Committee. During his employment at Virginia Tech he was most proud of his origination and implementation of the employee service recognition program which recognizes the service of all employees at Virginia Tech.

He was an avid Hokie sports fan and a member of the Hokie Club since 1970. He was an active member of the Montgomery CountyBlacksburg Kiwanis Club, Blacksburg Sports Club, Montgomery County Christmas Store, The Vistas Board of Directors, The Blacksburg Planning Commission for eight years and the Blacksburg United Methodist Church. The special love and support of his beloved wife, Joyce and his children and granddaughter, as well as the friendship of close friends were the most important part of his life. He tried to make a positive difference in the lives he touched and drew strength from their special love and friendship of the people. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather to “Kathleen” who always referred to him as “my Beany”.

Surviving are his beloved wife of 52 years, Joyce Putnam Butt; a son, Thomas Michael Butt of Roanoke; a daughter, Lisa Butt Warstler of Christiansburg; a granddaughter, Kathleen Nichole Warstler of Christiansburg; and a niece, Sherry Payne Quillen of Abingdon, Va.

A memorial service will be held at the Blacksburg United Methodist Church on Monday, April 23, 2007 at 1 p.m. with his special friend and Pastor, Reggie Tuck and Associate Pastor Morris Fliescher officiating. A private burial ceremony will be at Westview Cemetery. The family will receive friends at McCoy Funeral Home, 150 Country Club Drive, Blacksburg from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 22, 2007.