Carrsville- John Carlton Butler, 73, longtime Isle of Wight County farmer passed away September 27, 2011 surrounded by his loved ones. Carlton was a lifelong resident of Isle of Wight County and a son of the late Herman Carlton and Thelma English Butler. He was predeceased by a brother, Roger L. Butler . He was a member of Beaver Dam Baptist Church where he was a former deacon, youth group leader, Sunday school teacher, RA leader and former chairman of the building committee. Carlton was a former licensed private pilot and a member of the Virginia Flying Farmers. He served on various boards including the Peanut Growers Cooperative Marketing Association, the Virginia Crop Improvement Association, a founding member of The Peanut Coalition, The Virginia Cotton Growers, The Carolina Cotton Growers, the American Agriculture Movement, a founding member of the Carrsville Farmers Co-op and a founding member of the VA-Carolina Peanut Co-op.

Left to cherish his memory is his loving and dedicated wife of 54 years, Elaine Barrett Butler; three daughters, Kathy B. Darden and husband, Larry, of Carrsville, Beth B. Francis and husband,Glenn, of Capron and Carla B. Francis and husband, Matt, of Courtland; two sisters, Louise B. Noles and Dorothy B. Tyree and husband, Bobby, all of Carrsville; six grandchildren, Bryce and Barrett Perry, Jason and Jordan Francis, and Matthew and Mallory Francis; three step-grandchildren, Clay Darden (Courtney), Andrew and Mary Catherine Darden; Carlton’s step-mother, Clara B. Butler; a special niece, Jeana B. Thompson; two special nephews, Daryl and Travis Butler and their mother, Betty L. Butler and a host of other nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, September 30, 2011 in the chapel of Wright Funeral Home with the Rev. James H. Hyatt, Jr., officiating. Interment will follow in Beaver Dam Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends today (Thursday) from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the funeral home and other times at the home of Kathy and Larry Darden, 4434 Joyners Bridge Rd., Carrsville. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Franklin Christian Church. The family thanks the doctors and staff of Southampton Memorial Hospital for their wonderful care. www.wrightfuneralhome.org.