Milton Thomas Butterworth Jr.

Milton “Milt” Thomas Butterworth, Jr., age 80, of Asheville, North Carolina, passed away on Saturday, June 26, 2024, at home surrounded by his family. Milt was born in Winchendon, Massachusetts, on February 22, 1944, to the late Milton, Sr. and Merrilynne Davenport Butterworth. Milt lived a life rich in love, creativity, and adventure.

His passions included hiking and being outdoors, enjoying our beautiful planet, photography, traveling, reading, and boating, but most of all, he loved spending time with his family. Milt’s career spanned six decades in artistic photography and educational interpreting. He was notably the COO and Chief Photographer for the S. S. Central America Project and later served fifteen years as Guest Relations Manager at the Biltmore Estate.

In addition to his parents, Milt was preceded in death by his sisters Lynne Butterworth Thompson (John) and Susan Butterworth Jackson. Milt is survived by his wife, Sandra Thompson Butterworth; sons, Milton Thomas Butterworth, III (Jeannette) and Luke Thomas Butterworth (Hope); grandchildren, Elliot, Celia, Max, and Sam; brothers-in-law, John Thompson, Jr. (Jan), Tommy Thompson; sisters-in-law, Patty Thompson and Jan Thompson (John); nieces and nephews Andrea Jones (Cara), Jennifer Thompson (Todd), Meredith Peine (Adam), John Thompson III (Shannon), Noah Jackson (Mary) Adam Jackson, Henry Thompson (Emily), Charlie Thompson, and Mia Thompson.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 17, 2024, in the Warren Wilson College Presbyterian Church, with the Reverend Margaret LaMotte Torrence officiating. A reception will follow at the Church Fellowship Hall, where the family will receive friends from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. and at other times at Milt and Sandee’s residence.

Memorial contributions may be made to the University of Evansville Theatre (https://www.evansville.edu/majors/theatre/) and the Government Accountability Project (https://whistleblower.org/).

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