SHERBURNE – Robert James Buterbaugh, 69, of Sherburne, passed away March 5, 2012 as a result of a long battle with lung and kidney disease.
Robert was born on Dec. 21, 1942 to Harry and Emma Buterbaugh of Pleasant Street in Hamilton. He attended Hamilton Central School and following his graduation he joined the U.S. Navy where he served for 21 years. Throughout his time in the military Robert was stationed on the USS Robert L. Wilson Destroyer, the USS Midway, and the USS Ortelon. In addition to these assignments, he served in Cuba during the missile crisis under the Kennedy administration, he was station in Rota, Spain, and spent two years of duty in the Vietnam War.
Upon the completion of his distinguished Naval career Robert had achieved the rank of Senior Chief. He received numerous honors, awards and medals. Robert was also awarded the 1978 Edward F. Ney Memorial Award for the best medium size afloat dining facility. This is the highest accolade a dining facility can receive and Robert took first place out of a fleet of 700 ships.
After his retirement from the US Navy Robert pursued a career in Hotel Restaurant Management after he graduated from Morrisville College in 1982. He worked in local establishments such as the Colgate Inn, Cazenovia College, and the Georgetown Inn when it was owned by Jim and Valerie Wilson. It was here that Robert received a Five Star Rating from the Syracuse Food Critic. His driving force, devotion to food service excellence, and pristine palette for food offered him numerous opportunities to serve as a consultant for restaurants and in the Utica and Syracuse areas. Ultimately Robert retired from this career while working at the VA Hospital in Syracuse.
Robert leaves behind his wife of 43 years, Jennie (Fleming) Buterbaugh of Sherburne; his oldest daughter Michelle and husband Ed Lawson and their two children Edwin and Allison of Albany; his son Christopher and wife Diana and their three sons Christian, Matthew, and Daniel of Plymouth, Mass.; his youngest daughter Melissa Buterbaugh of Rocky Mount, N.C.; his mother Emma of Hamilton; brothers Raymond and Edwin both of Madison; brother David of Hamilton; brother Harry Jr of Athens, Tenn.; a sister Ellen Jane of Danbury, Conn.; and several nieces and nephews. Robert was predeceased by his father Harry and his sister Laura.
Funeral services with military honors will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday from the Assembly of God Church, Silver St., Norwich. Interment in the Woodlawn Cemetery, Hamilton, will be made at a later date.
Friends are invited to call at the Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 25 Broad St., Hamilton, on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.
Contributions in his memory may be made to Wanderers Rest Humane Assoc., PO Box 535, Canastota, NY 13032.
To send a condolence or sign the Book of Memories online go to www.burgessandtedescofuneralhomes.com.