Henry Arthur Deacon, Jr.

Henry Arthur Deacon, Jr., lovingly known as “Butch” to family and friends, was born on December 16, 1942, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to the late Henry Arthur Deacon, Sr. and Thelma Thomas Deacon.

As a child, Butch would spend time in Tuskegee, Alabama, with his grandparents. Those visits left a lasting impression and helped shape his quiet nature and enduring love for family. He matriculated through the Philadelphia Public School System and graduated from Simon Gratz High School in 1961. His lifelong love of history later led him to take courses at Temple University.

Butch proudly served his country as a sergeant in the United States Army during the mid-1960s. He was stationed at Fort Huachuca in Arizona and later served overseas in Korea. He enjoyed sharing his experiences in Arizona and Korea, as well as the things he learned while in the military.

On October 7, 1967, Butch wed the love of his life, Hustina Kilgore. From their union came three amazing children: Christopher Alan, Michelle Lynn, and Valarie Denice. Butch was a devoted and engaged father with the heart of a “big kid.” He enjoyed taking the family on outings to the Philadelphia Zoo, the Art Museum, the Franklin Institute, Penn’s Landing for 4th of July fireworks, picnics, and trips to Hershey Park, Great Adventure, and Sesame Place, to name a few memories.

Butch was also known for his quick wit and dry, sarcastic sense of humor. His comments were often unexpected, clever, and delivered with perfect timing, leaving you in laughter.

In 1975, through the faithful influence of his grandmother, “Ma Mattie,” Butch was baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church and became a devoted member of the Ebenezer SDA Church alongside his wife and mother. He served faithfully on the usher board and deacon board, and as an elder, always willing to work behind the scenes and serve where needed. As a member of the Deacon Board, he was humorously known as “Deacon Deacon.”

Blessed with a creative eye and technical skill, Butch found joy in photography and audiovisual work. He was a self-taught portrait photographer and established a wedding photography business. He later worked as a freelance photographer and audiovisual creator for the Allegheny East Conference Real Life Communications. He created slide presentations for seminars and special events, occasionally featuring his children as models in the presentations. He was a familiar presence at camp meetings, working from the large trailer behind the pavilion, recording sermons and duplicating cassette tapes so others could take the message home with them.

Butch later worked for the City of Philadelphia Water Department as a supervisor before becoming a long-distance truck driver. He loved the open road and the chance to travel to new places, often returning home with souvenirs and stories from the cities he visited.

One of Butch’s greatest joys, second only to being a father, was becoming a grandfather. Affectionately known as “Pop-Pop” to his two grandsons, Kendall and Brandon, he embraced that role wholeheartedly. He delighted in helping the boys with homework, especially science and art projects, by adding in a little extra “Pop-Pop flair.”

Butch quietly and peacefully departed this life in the early morning hours of Thursday, February 19, 2026, at Sandy Springs Center for Nursing and Healing in Brookhaven, Georgia.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry Arthur Deacon, Sr., and Thelma Thomas Deacon Few.

Butch’s life will forever be cherished by his loving wife of 58 years, Hustina Deacon; his devoted children, Christopher Deacon (Ellen) of Sanatoga, Pennsylvania, Michelle Carpenter (Felix) of Lawrenceville, Georgia, and Valarie Deacon of Norcross, Georgia; and his beloved grandsons, Felix Kendall Carpenter and Brandon Vaughn Deacon. He is also survived by his aunts, Dorothy Bradley of Birmingham, Alabama, and Joanne Grant of Tuskegee, Alabama, and his sister-in-law, Barbara Roundtree of West Chester, Ohio, along with nephews, cousins, extended family, and friends.

In accordance with his wishes, no funeral services will be held.