BUTLER Jr., ARTHUR FRANKLIN Arthur Franklin Butler, Jr., a second generation local banker, passed away to be with our Lord Jesus Christ on Friday, August 14, 2009. Art was born in Mercy Hospital to Art and Mabel Butler. Art met his wife Joyce, the love of his life, at South Mission Beach in 1960. They were married six months later and had two children, Antoinette Dee Smith of El Cajon, and Barton Preston Butler, of Bend, Oregon. Art also has four grand-children, Kayla Richelle Smith, Jenna Antoinette Smith, Brynn Victoria Butler, and Bennett Arthur Butler. Mr. Butler is also survived by his brother Robert Butler of La Mesa. Art attended local schools, graduated from Pt. Loma High school in 1952, and then received his BS from San Diego State University in 1956 where he was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He also attended the University of Washington and received a Masters in Banking/ Finance. During his banking career he obtained a Commercial Lending Degree from Ohio State University and an International Banking Degree from the University of Virginia. During his banking career, he followed in his father's footsteps as Vice President of First National Bank of San Diego. In 1972, Art was a founder and Executive Vice President of Grossmont Bank. He continued as a board director and chairman of Grossmont Bank's audit and compliance committee until the bank was sold in 1995. During his banking career, he was an officer in the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce, the SDSU Alumni Association, Vice Chairman of the board of directors of Cuyamaca Bank, and a member of the board of directors of the Grossmont Hospital Corporation for nine years. Art had been a member of La Mesa Lions for almost 40 years. He was a past President of the East County Boys and Girls Club where he received the Man and Boy of the Year Award. Art was also a member of the Finance and Audit Committee for Sharp Health Care for close to ten years; and a past board member of Skyline Wesleyan Church. He was an avid sports fan supporting the Aztec Basketball and Football Teams for over 45 years. Art ran in over 20 marathons including the New York Marathon with his wife Joyce and was honored to carry the Olympic torch locally for the 1982 Olympic Games. He and his wife Joyce also did national and international biking to places like France, England, Holland, Italy, Hawaii, New Zealand, Canada, Martha's Vineyard, Maine, Mississippi, the Outer Banks, and Napa. Art's favorite countries were Turkey, Africa and Israel where he and his wife Joyce were baptized in the Jordan river. Other activities he enjoyed were the many hiking trips he took to Europe with his son Bart; going to lunch with his daughter Toni, and going to Rancho La Puerta annually with his wife Joyce. Art also enjoyed body surfing every summer with his buddy Walter. Art lived at Mission Beach before and after he was married and felt extremely blessed to have a summer home. It was at the beach that he enjoyed digging for crabs and boogie boarding with his granddaughters Kayla and Jenna. Another of Art's favorite activities was spinning class (bicycling) every Friday at the gym with instructor Kelly White. He loved going to his couples bible group his 4-Seasons dinner group and various men's luncheon get togethers. Art cared deeply about the community in which he lived and always wanted to be involved where he felt he could make a difference. Those who knew Art, always appreciated his upbeat attitude, his wonderful smile, and his caring spirit. He had many friends because - he was a friend. Art will be buried at a private family Service. A Celebration of Life will be held Tuesday, August 25th, at 2:00 p.m. at Skyline Wesleyan Church, 11330 Campo Road, La Mesa, Calif. In lieu of flowers, the Butler family requests donations to the Arthur F. Butler Scholarship Fund, c/o the Boys and Girls Club of East County, 8802 Tamberly Way, Santee, Calif. 92071, Grossmont/Sharp Hospice c/o P.O. Box 158, La Mesa, Calif. 91944, or the building fund at Skyline Wesleyan Church 11330 Campo Road, La Mesa, Calif. 91941. Published in the San Diego Union-Tribune on 8/24/2009