From Robert A. Butler -
By now, you folks in and around Paso Robles have probably seen the articles
about my mother's passing, or read her obituary in the Press or the
Tribune. Many of you took the time to attend her funeral, while quite a
few others told me how much they regretted not being able to attend. If I
did not thank you then for honoring her so, I'd like to thank you now, and
to share with you just how our family came to live in such a special place
as Paso Robles. Serendipity is the operative word here. My mother and
father, with my brother Jim and me in tow, had often driven through Paso
Robles on the way back and forth between our home in Dinuba and a cabin
that my grandparents had built on Ardath Drive in Cambria. My dad was born
in Dinuba and grew up on a ranch between Dinuba and Orosi, and after World
War II was over, he decided to return to Dinuba with his new family. In
Dinuba, Mom taught grade school, Dad was the junior high band director, we
enjoyed Dad's numerous relatives in the valley, and life was good. I
suppose we had stopped occasionally in Paso Robles to buy gas, or to let me
and my brother expend some energy running around the park, but as I
understand it, my parents had never had a thought about leaving Dinuba.
Then, as we pulled into Paso Robles on a hot summer day during the summer
of 1952, Mom and Dad decided on a whim to see if there were any teaching
jobs available in town. They found their way to the school district's
office and made themselves known, and were pleased to find that there were
indeed two openings - a 3rd grade position for Mom and an 8th grade
position for Dad, which they readily accepted. We found a house in a new
development called Sherwood Acres, and Mom quickly located a church for us
to attend. All of us were very pleased with this unexpected transition.
Now, as I reflect on Mom's life in Paso Robles and realize anew just how
much she joyously served her church, the community, and generations of Paso school kids, I have to believe that God had a hand in leading us here.
And here is what I think He must have said to Mom on that summer day in 1952: "Surely you shall serve Me in this place." And so she did. Pat Butler
loved Paso Robles, the town and its people and every minute of her life
there, and was honored to be part of such a wonderful community.