Bert was born February 16^th 1946 and spent most of his informative years growing up in northern Maine in the town of Caribou.  After high school Bert made a commitment to join the Military.  He served twenty-four years in the United States Navy, served in small boat operations in Vietnam, and retired as a Senior Chief Radioman.

By now Bert was retired and living in sunny San Diego where one can ride three hundred and sixty-five days a year.  He had always enjoyed riding and the Motorcycle Club lifestyle.  Both he and his wife rode for many years now, but Bert missed the camaraderie of the military lifestyle.  He yearned to start an MC of Veterans helping Veterans.  Bert found the VFW Organization and started down the road to establishing just that, a VFW MC.  Bert was a member of the Spring Valley VFW Post 1512, which later merged with Encanto but maintained the post number as it was the oldest post in California.

After obtaining authorization from the VFW National Organization to proceed with the plank he began building his Mother Chapter in San Diego.  As part of the VFW 1^st District the San Diego Chapter is comprised of over thirty VFW Posts.  He began having breakfast fundraisers and organizing rides to grow awareness of the newest Veteran MC in San Diego.  Bert did it right!  He not only obtained authorization from the VFW he also lobbied with the Confederation of Clubs (COC) of San Diego to obtain authorization to operate as an MC in the San Diego area.

Bert moved on after establishing a solid core, to be the VFW MC State Director, and liaison to the VFW Department of California.  Later Bert would be renamed VFW MC State President.  A term he served until his passing in 2014.

Bert was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2013.  Unfortunately, it was too late, as it had already metastasized into his bones.  Bert passed away on November 17^th 2014, just a decade after his vision had come to fruition.

Bert is survived by his wife Reta “Mama Reta” Butler of forty-nine years; sons, Robert and James; and daughter Denise; grandchildren Jessica, Jordan, Kyle, Melinda, Lorena, and Chastity.

If you want to see Papa Bert today you can find him at; Miramar National Cemetery 5795 Nobel Drive, San Diego, CA 92122 (Section A, Row 1, Site # 26).  You can also find his plaque at Mount Soledad Memorial, 6905 La Jolla Scenic Drive, La Jolla CA (is located on H Wall, East Side, Row 3, Number 24).