Claire Titus Butler passed on Thursday, January 12, 2023, in Roanoke, Virginia.

Originally from Ohio, Claire was the youngest child of Judge Earl Remington Titus and Mary Claire Giles Titus, a homemaker.  Claire went to Baltimore, Maryland, to attend Johns Hopkins Nursing School and graduated in June 1947.

Claire continued to work as a Surgical Nurse at JH Hospital where she met and married William W.S. Butler III, MD, Urology (deceased). Several years later they moved to Roanoke so that he could practice Urology with his father, William W.S. Butler Jr., MD, Urology. Father and son were some of the founders of Jefferson Surgical Clinic, Roanoke, Virginia.

Their three children are Mery Claire Butler of Lakeland, Florida, W.W.S. Butler IV, MD, Urology(deceased) and John Marshall Butler Sr., MD, Urology of Roanoke, Virginia.  Claire is survived by Mery Claire’s children, Gregory C. Little (Kate Koplan, MD), and Shelby Little (Caleb Stoddart); Helen Hern Butler, widow of Sam, and their two daughters, Claire Butler Kral, (David), and Renee Butler Harrell (Adam); John’s wife, Kimberly Macione Butler, his three sons, John M. Butler Jr., Lee W. Butler, and Will W.S. Butler V, and John’s two step daughters, Jane-Anna Caldwell Burfield (Christian) and Lilly Caldwell. Additionally, Claire is survived by six great-grandchildren.

Claire and Bill were one of first to have a cabin on Smith Mountain Lake as their home existed before APCO’s Dam was completed, creating the lake. Claire did not enjoy water sports, preferring winter sports of ice skating and downhill skiing. After discovering the Colorado snow, Claire and Bill built a cabin in Snowmass Village for skiing, which the family fortunately continues to enjoy year round. 

Claire was involved with the Junior League of Roanoke, Roanoke Valley Garden Club, where she served as a past President and won several Lilly Show awards. She was a member of Roanoke Country Club, Hunting Hills Country Club, Shenandoah Club, and The Roanoke Assembly. She was a descendant of 1620 Mayflower passenger and Compact signer, Richard Warren. Claire had a sign in her home which read, “Behind every successful man, is a working woman.”

After 1997 as a widow, Claire enjoyed volunteering for over a decade at the Discovery Shop of the American Cancer Society with a delightful group. Claire moved to Cherry Hill and treasured each of the CH residents.

Claire was proud of being a nurse. Her choice was to be buried with her Johns Hopkins Hospital Nursing Cap and pin in her hands. The family respectfully requests in lieu of flowers, donations would be welcome to the Development & Alumni Relations-Cierra Greene, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, 525 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, P. 410-955-4284, nursdevel@jhu.edu | website, With the name of Claire Titus Butler on the memo line of the check.

On April 4, 2023, at 10 a.m. in the Evergreen Chapel, a Nightingale Nurse Retirement Service will be held immediately followed by a “Celebration of Life;” with St. John’s Episcopal Church Rector, Eric Long, presiding. Then all are welcome to the St. John’s Fellowship Hall for visitation with Claire’s family. Online condolences may be expressed to her family at www.Oakeys.com.

Arrangements by Oakey’s Funeral Service – Downtown Chapel, Roanoke (540) 982-2100.