Walter Loyd "Butch" Preuninger

Walter Loyd “Butch” Preuninger was born December 25, 1941, in Tyler, Texas, to Albert & Inez Preuninger. The family moved around some but eventually landed in the Union Hill ISD, where he would meet the love of his life, Lucille Knight, whom he married April 14, 1960, six weeks prior to graduation.
Butch and Lucy would travel the world following his enlistment in the United States Air Force. Butch would retire from the USAF as a Master Sergeant after 21 years of service and devotion to his country. After the Air Force, Butch and Lucy would open, own, and operate Preuninger’s Air & Heat, an air conditioning business. Butch was an avid reader, loving the Louis L’ Amour series. He was also a deacon and of the Baptist faith.
Butch and Lucy resided in the Simpsonville community for approximately 35 years, before moving to the Mount Pleasant area, where Butch enjoyed farm life and visits from his kids, grandkids, and great-grandchildren.
Butch was preceded in death by his parents, Albert & Inez, and his brother, James Paul Preuninger.
Butch is survived by the love his life of 58 years, Lucy Preuninger, three children: son Walter Lloyd Preuninger, II, and wife, Kelly; daughter Monica Lynn Sanders and husband, Russell; and son William Lance Preuninger, and wife, Renee’; grandchildren Trenton Lloyd Preuninger and wife, Amanda; Trey Lance Preuninger; Jake Blaylock; John Ryan Blaylock and girlfriend, Kaity Slone; Kaitlyn Preuninger, and fiancé Jordan Abron; and Christopher Preuninger, and girlfriend, Brittany Marks; and four great-grandchildren, Erin Preuninger, Michael Preuninger, Daniel Preuninger, and Julian Abron, and one great-granddaughter on the way.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Butch’s memory and honor to the Dallas Area Parkinsonism Society, 6370 Lyndon B. Johnson Fwy., Suite 170, Dallas, Texas, 75240, (972) 620-7600, www.daps.us. This society assists individuals in learning to live with Parkinson’s disease, which Butch was widely known to suffer with.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held in the Chapel at Croley Funeral Home on West Harrison Street in Gilmer on Saturday, April 21, 2018, at 10:00 a.m.