SOAR365 joins the Greater Richmond community in mourning the passing of Marshall Walker Butler, a transformative leader whose vision, perseverance, and compassion shaped disability services in Virginia for almost four decades. Mr. Butler passed away peacefully last week, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy as the longtime CEO of SOAR365 – known for much of his tenure as the Greater Richmond ARC – and as a fierce advocate for people with disabilities and their families.
Mr. Butler led the organization for 37 years, growing it from a small agency of just eight employees into one of Virginia’s leading disability service providers. SOAR365 would not exist in its current form without Marshall Butler.
A Call to Service
Mr. Butler’s life of service began early. He served in the U.S. Navy and attended the University of Richmond, later pursuing a career in rehabilitation counseling. Early work as a counselor at Goodwill shaped his lifelong commitment to employment and independence for people with disabilities. When he joined the Greater Richmond ARC, the organization’s primary program was a sheltered employment model, and Mr. Butler quickly expanded opportunities – launching the organization’s first work center and growing job placement and vocational services.
A Visionary Builder and Advocate
He was known for innovative thinking and persistence. He explored creative employment ideas – from a hotel cleaning contract to document scanning and a hot dog cart at the organization’s Westwood location. He also spent years securing the organization’s first AbilityOne contract (formerly NISH), opening sustainable employment pathways. He also worked with other nonprofit leaders to advocate for Medicaid reform in Virginia, helping move the system from grant-based funding to a fee-for-service model, allowing organizations like SOAR365 to expand responsibly and serve more people.
As laws guaranteeing free and appropriate public education were enacted, the ARC became a pioneer in the field of early intervention services for infants and toddlers (birth to age 3) who had developmental delays or disabilities. Mr. Butler supported inclusion efforts such as Kids on the Block, a pioneering puppet program that educated students during early school integration.
He oversaw major growth in services and facilities, including the purchase of the organization’s Westwood location, securing a long-term contract with Chesterfield County for Camp Baker, and envisioning both the Saunders Avenue headquarters and PARK365. He built strong partnerships with United Way, Dominion, Circuit City, Standard Drug, and others, stabilizing funding and strengthening community impact. He was also a tireless advocate against institutionalization, ensuring people with disabilities could live and thrive in community-based settings.
A Legacy That Endures
A devoted family man, Mr. Butler was proud of his daughters, Brittney and Blaine, and his grandchildren. After retiring in 2015, he took up the ukulele, playing benefit concerts for nursing homes and day support programs. A self-described “curious fellow” and voracious reader, Mr. Butler never stopped learning or giving back.
Marshall Walker Butler’s impact is immeasurable. He built systems, opportunities, and a culture of dignity that continue to shape SOAR365 and the broader disability services community. His legacy lives on in every life touched by the organization he helped build – and in a community made stronger, more inclusive, and more compassionate because of him.
More information will be shared via social media about an upcoming celebration of life once details become available.
To read Mr. Butler’s obituary in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, click here.
