Incident
Deputy Sheriff Ronald Butler died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.
Deputy Butler was a United States Marine Corps veteran. He had served with the Bexar County Sheriff's Office for 31 years.
COVID-19 and Law Enforcement
Deputy Sheriff Ronald Rudy Butler died on September 3, 2021 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 56.
He is one of 885 officers honored here, and one of 2 at Bexar County Sheriff's Office.
Beginning in early 2020, law enforcement officers across the country contracted COVID-19 in the course of their duties. While much of the nation sheltered at home, they kept answering calls, making arrests, transporting prisoners, and working face to face with the public. There was no distance to be had from the job.
Corrections officers were hit hardest. Confined facilities and large populations meant constant, close, unavoidable exposure.
Survivors
Deputy Butler is survived by his wife and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtqzn5hevpdap5s0fzd75- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Ronald. Claim this record.
Also honored at requiem.nw, salute.nw — U.S. Marine Corps. One record, 3 gates. Ronald is one person.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
The country locked its doors. You kept working.
Deputy Sheriff Butler gave the Bexar County Sheriff's Office 31 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Antonio community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Butler.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Ronald Rudy Butler served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Illness
Bexar County Sheriff's Office has lost 18 officers; 2 of them lost to illness.
Ronald is one of 204 officers lost to illness in TX, 8.4% of the 2,423 remembered there.
Ronald is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Ronald is one of 2,979 officers lost to illness worldwide, 8.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2021, 99 officers in TX were lost to illness, more than in any other year.
In 2021, 564 officers in the United States were lost to illness, more than in any other year.
In 2021, 566 officers worldwide were lost to illness, more than in any other year.
Who
Ronald was 56. Of the 201 lost to illness in TX whose age is recorded, half were between 45 and 59; the middle age was 53. Ronald had served 31 years; the middle length of service was 17 years.
Ronald was 56. Of the 1,996 lost to illness in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 42 and 58; the middle age was 51. Ronald had served 31 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
Ronald was 56. Of the 2,916 lost to illness worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 39 and 56; the middle age was 49. Ronald had served 31 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
When
September holds 16.7% of these deaths in TX, more than any other month. Fridays: 12.7%.
September holds 11.2% of these deaths in the United States; October holds the most, 14.9%. Fridays: 14.8%.
September holds 9.8% of these deaths worldwide; October holds the most, 12.6%. Fridays: 14.9%.
How
Illness deaths account for 11.1% of all 18 deaths at Bexar County Sheriff's Office, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 8.4% of all 2,423 deaths in TX, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 7.4% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 8.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 3rd most common cause.
His people
Bexar County Sheriff's Office has 18 officers remembered here, Ronald among them.
-
Joseph L. Hood Mar 19, 1840
-
Edward Alexander Stevens
Nov 7, 1885
-
John Thomas Holloway
Jul 23, 1924
-
George L. Mangold
Sep 18, 1932
-
Frank Benjamin Ackerman
Sep 21, 1937
-
George Petrogallo
May 9, 1967
-
Winford Odell Pattillo
Jun 9, 1969
-
Joshua B. Rodriguez, Jr.
Feb 2, 1973
-
Vincent L. Walker
Feb 2, 1973
-
Elwood Edward Groff
Oct 15, 1979
-
George R. Garza
Sep 20, 1982
-
Arturo E. Rodriguez
Dec 14, 1982
-
Adrian Salazar Aguilar
Jun 30, 1985
-
David Delgado Castillo
Apr 11, 1991
-
Jesus A. Garza, Jr.
Dec 26, 2003
-
Kenneth Gary Vann, Sr.
May 28, 2011
-
Timothy P. De La Fuente
Apr 30, 2020
-
Ronald Rudy Butler
Sep 3, 2021
Where
Military Service
Ronald Rudy Butler served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.
Visit Ronald Rudy Butler’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 19-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
17 officers from Bexar County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.















