Benjamin Eugene "Butch" Hines

Benjamin “Butch” Eugene Hines USMC, retired, received his heavenly wings Friday, Dec. 4, 2020 after a multi-week battle with COVID-19. The second of two children, he was born Mar. 2, 1949, in Altamont, Illinois, to Ralph Eugene Hines and Opal Erlene Hines (later Taylor). Butch attended high school in Altamont and graduated in 1967. He loved boxing and was a golden gloves boxer in high school, and also boxed in The Marines. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1968 and served proudly through 1991, when a heart attack forced him to retire from The Marines after serving for 23 years. He was a patriot who was so proud of his service in The Marine Corps and his tours in Vietnam. During his enlistment, he served two tours in Vietnam and was also selected on a unit that was sent to evacuate Saigon; he was a rifle expert and small arms expert who received 2 Purple Hearts, a Silver Star, and numerous meritorious awards during his service. Later in his Marine career, he served in stations in Hawaii, Tennessee, North Carolina and Florida. He moved to the metroplex and received an associate’s degree in environmental impact and mitigation, which he used to serve several companies in that capacity. He met and married Gloria to whom he was a loving husband and companion for the past 24 years. He always put her first and there was nothing he would not do for her or the family. Butch was an avid gun collector who amassed a large collection that he was very proud of, and anytime his kids or grandkids came to visit, the first thing they wanted to see were any of the new guns he had added to his collection. He loved talking sports, guns and telling stories about his service in The Marines. As a country, we elevate the ideals of God, Country, Honor, Courage and Service – Butch Hines epitomized those beliefs! He leaves to honor his memory his wife Gloria Hines, Sister Sharon Probst (husband Weldon) Half Sister Carla Vanmeter (husband Dan) - Children Michael Hines, Chelsea Hines, Trenton Hines - Step Children Billy Horton (wife Lisa), Theresa Phillips (husband Gary), Jonathan Taylor and Jason Taylor; his Niece Crystal Schutzback (her sons Justin and Andrew) – 7 grandkids Jonathan Hernandez, Alyssa Cantrell, Hailey Horton, Houston Horton, Camden Hines, Madison Hines, and Kandace Hines – 3 great-grandchildren Abby Cantrell, Ella Cantrell and Kamren Hernandez.

He is preceded in death by his Dad Ralph Eugene Hines, Mother Opal Erlene Taylor, Grandson Austin Phillips and Granddaughter Angela Hernandez.

Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday December 9th at Skyvue Funeral Home 7220 Rendon Bloodworth Road in Mansfield. Funeral services will be held in the chapel at Skyvue Funeral Home on Thursday December 10 at 1:00pm with interment services following immediately after at Skyvue Memorial Gardens, which is adjacent to the Funeral home. Condolences may be expressed https://www.skyvuefuneralhome.com/obituary-listing

The family would like to humbly thank Dr. Shelley Lenamond and all of the doctors, nurses and caregivers in the COVID unit at Methodist Hospital in Mansfield who were all angels and true heroes who fought with everything they had to save Butch.