HUNTSVILLE — Gary “Butch” Howard Bolinger,

75, of Huntsville died Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, at Mercy Hospital, Rogers. He was born Friday, Oct. 19, 1945, at Prairie Grove to George Howard and Mary Josephine Sparks Bolinger.

Butch married Minta Joye Snow on Saturday, March 6, 1965, at Huntsville, Ark., and together they were parents to two children. He was a businessman who owned and operated War Eagle Western Store for 41 years. One of the last of the old cowboys, a pillar of the community and a gentleman, Butch was known for always shaking your hand, opening the door for ladies, and tipping his hat.

He was a past member of the International Pro Rodeo Association, served as the president of the Madison County Rodeo Board for 13 years, and founded the Cowboy Division of Fellowship of Christian Athletes of NWA.

Butch pastored several churches in Northwest Arkansas, including Pilgrim’s Rest, Cobb Creek, Berryville Freewill Baptist, and Astounding Grace Church. Butch was proudest of his ministry, pastoring to those who didn’t have a church and reaching the unreachable. He ministered to those in jail, serving as chaplain for the Madison County Jail for 12 years, as easily as those stopping to visit at the saddle shop. He even performed weddings there. He was also appointed as district jail inspector by Gov. Mike Huckabee and was voted the “Nicest Man in Madison County.” Butch loved his family and friends, and will be dearly missed by the many whose lives he touched in the community.

Butch was preceded in death by his parents; brother Jeffrey Bolinger and sister Carolyn Cline.

He is survived by wife Joye Bolinger of the home; son and daughter-in-law Bret and Kim Bolinger of Springdale; daughter and son-inlaw Amy and Rick Culver of Springdale; granddaughters Katelyn Slane of Fayetteville and Makenna Bolinger of Springdale; nephews Bobby and Jenney Wilson of Huntsville, Landon and Amanda Bolinger of Conway, Tim and Sheri Owens of Fayetteville and Craig and Chris Owens of Nashville, Tenn.; niece Jordan and Andre Barrows of Springdale; several great-nephews and great-nieces, and a host of friends.

Butch will lie in state at Brashears Funeral Home from 8 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020, at Astounding Grace Church, Hindsville, with Bill Anderson officiating. Due to covid-19, please practice social distancing, masks are required and will be worn in honor of the staff at Mercy Medical Center who took such great care of Butch. Services will be livestreamed on the Astounding Grace Facebook Page; and for those who wish to remain in their vehicles and listen to the service, it will be broadcast on 89.1 FM in the parking lot of the church.

Pallbearers will be Justin Laird, Floy Bob Cartmell, Jonathan Wagner, Rick Evans, Bobby Wilson, and Greg Slane. Honorary pallbearers will be the deacons of Astounding Grace Church. Interment will immediately follow services at Huntsville Cemetery. Services are entrusted to Brashears Funeral Home and Crematory of Huntsville.