1919
Ernest
2016
Ernest Robert Buttice
February 4, 1919 — January 25, 2016
Walla Walla
Ernie was born Feb. 4, 1919, and died
Jan. 25, 2016, after a stoic fight with leukemia.
Ernie was a hard-working gentle man who enjoyed life and never knew a stranger. His parents, Pietro and Gioseppina Tarallo Buttice, came to the United States from Sicily. Ernie was their sixth child. He had eight siblings.
Ernie lived his entire 96 years in Walla Walla. He and his wife raised their eight children in the same house in which he was born and raised. Braden School was a two-room school house he attended for eight years. Ernie told stories of the potbelly stove and “gaps” in the walls. He and his classmates used slats from neighbor’s fence to play baseball.
Before joining the Army, he picked fruit, onions and asparagus. He gave all of the money to his mother. The 749th Railway Battalion held a yearly reunion. This reunion soon became the family vacation.
Ernie returned to Walla Walla in 1946, and started his construction business. Ernie took great pride in his work.
Ernie met his beloved wife of 66 years on a blind date. On Nov. 7, 1948, they married in Walla Walla.
Jane and Ernie enjoyed their eight children. Ernie enjoyed traveling, he made three trips to Sicily to visit relatives. Fishing was one of his favorite activities. Watching DeSales basketball and baseball
teams was a large part of his enjoyment. He enjoyed all of the sports his grandchildren and great-grandchildren participated in, baseball, football, basketball, softball and hockey. Up until the time of his illness he took great pride in his ability to raise his vegetables, mow his lawn and work his wheat fields.
Ernie was a religious man who attended church regularly. He helps us with his legacy. All he has done and will continue to do now that he is laid to rest.
With love, he is remembered and in memory he lives. Survived by his wife, Jane Buttice at the home; sons, Roy (Barbara) Buttice, David (Merridy) Buttice, Michael (Jennifer) Buttice, all of Walla Walla, Paul Buttice of Federal Way; daughters, Mary (Dick) Williams of Walla Walla, Catherine (Dan) Galvin of Olympia; brother and sister-in-law, Emillo and Carmy Buttice of Walla Walla; 13 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceded in death by parents; two daughters, Elizabeth Jane Buttice and Judith Joan Buttice; sisters, Rose Teal and Jenny Paietta; five brothers, Joseph, Jim, John, Anthony and Melvin Buttice.
Viewing and visitation will be Friday, Feb. 5, 2016, from 2 p.m. until after the Rosary at 6 p.m. at the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home. Funeral Mass on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016, 10 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church. Memorial contributions may be made to Walla Walla Community Hospice, The Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center or St. Patrick Catholic Church through the funeral home.
Ernie was a hard-working gentle man who enjoyed life and never knew a stranger. His parents, Pietro and Gioseppina Tarallo Buttice, came to the United States from Sicily. Ernie was their sixth child. He had eight siblings.
Ernie lived his entire 96 years in Walla Walla. He and his wife raised their eight children in the same house in which he was born and raised. Braden School was a two-room school house he attended for eight years. Ernie told stories of the potbelly stove and “gaps” in the walls. He and his classmates used slats from neighbor’s fence to play baseball.
Before joining the Army, he picked fruit, onions and asparagus. He gave all of the money to his mother. The 749th Railway Battalion held a yearly reunion. This reunion soon became the family vacation.
Ernie returned to Walla Walla in 1946, and started his construction business. Ernie took great pride in his work.
Ernie met his beloved wife of 66 years on a blind date. On Nov. 7, 1948, they married in Walla Walla.
Jane and Ernie enjoyed their eight children. Ernie enjoyed traveling, he made three trips to Sicily to visit relatives. Fishing was one of his favorite activities. Watching DeSales basketball and baseball
teams was a large part of his enjoyment. He enjoyed all of the sports his grandchildren and great-grandchildren participated in, baseball, football, basketball, softball and hockey. Up until the time of his illness he took great pride in his ability to raise his vegetables, mow his lawn and work his wheat fields.
Ernie was a religious man who attended church regularly. He helps us with his legacy. All he has done and will continue to do now that he is laid to rest.
With love, he is remembered and in memory he lives. Survived by his wife, Jane Buttice at the home; sons, Roy (Barbara) Buttice, David (Merridy) Buttice, Michael (Jennifer) Buttice, all of Walla Walla, Paul Buttice of Federal Way; daughters, Mary (Dick) Williams of Walla Walla, Catherine (Dan) Galvin of Olympia; brother and sister-in-law, Emillo and Carmy Buttice of Walla Walla; 13 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceded in death by parents; two daughters, Elizabeth Jane Buttice and Judith Joan Buttice; sisters, Rose Teal and Jenny Paietta; five brothers, Joseph, Jim, John, Anthony and Melvin Buttice.
Viewing and visitation will be Friday, Feb. 5, 2016, from 2 p.m. until after the Rosary at 6 p.m. at the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home. Funeral Mass on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016, 10 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church. Memorial contributions may be made to Walla Walla Community Hospice, The Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center or St. Patrick Catholic Church through the funeral home.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ernest Robert Buttice, please visit our flower store.
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