GREAT FALLS, SC ~ Mr. Charles Paul "Butch" Wieland, age 76, of Great Falls, SC passed away Saturday, February 20, 2021. He was born October 22, 1944, in Philadelphia, PA to the late Joseph B. Richbourg and Dean Eliza Watkins Wieland Richbourg; and as we were told, when he realized where he was at the ripe old age of 6 months, he immediately moved south.  Butch was a 1962 graduate of Manning High School.  He graduated from Spartanburg Junior College and then completed his undergraduate studies at Wofford College.  Immediately following his graduation, he entered the United States Army, where he served his country for six years.  He later earned an M.Ed and Ed.S. from Western Carolina University.  Butch began his career as an educator at Jackson School in Union County, North Carolina.  The next year, he began his journey at Great Falls High School and worked for Chester County School District for 41 years.  During his tenure as Assistant Principal and later Principal, Butch was an advocate for the students.  He not only taught History, but he taught responsibility, integrity, and compassion.  He used humor and stories to teach life lessons, not only to his own children, but to the thousands of students who attended Great Falls High School.  For many, Mr. Wieland and Great Falls High School are synonymous.  Butch was a Red Devil through and through and continued to help Great Falls High School by assisting the SRO in his capacity as a State Constable.  Butch Wieland was a tremendous supporter of Great Falls High School and has been known to pick up hundreds of dozens of doughnuts in the back of his truck from Krispy Kreme in Spartanburg, SC, as well as haul luggage for, and chaperone students at the Beta Convention.  After his retirement from education, Butch became a State Constable and worked in conjunction with the Fort Lawn Police Department and Chester County SROs.  He served in this capacity for 18 years.  Butch was a member of Fort Lawn Presbyterian Church and served as an Elder and Clerk of Session.

Mr. Wieland can be described in three words: Faith, Family, and Lawn Mowers.  Butch loved his girls, Paulette, Elizabeth, and Juline.  He would move heaven and earth to do whatever they asked.  Where there was one, there were four, as it will continue to be.  Mr. Wieland was loved by many and his life was one well-lived.

Mr. Wieland is survived by his beloved wife of 54 years, Paulette Yongue Wieland of Great Falls; two daughters, Dean Elizabeth Wieland Pennington of Chesnee, and Mildred Juline Wieland (Dan Popoff) of Lancaster; three grandchildren, Lauren Pennington of Chesnee, Baylee Popoff of Lancaster, and Alex Popoff of Anchorage; a brother, Joseph "Bill" Richbourg of Myrtle Beach; a sister, Annette Martel (Andy) of Navarre, FL; and many nephews and nieces whom he loved dearly.

Mr. Wieland was preceded in death by his parents; and his sister, Saundra Richbourg Ashurst.

The Celebration of Life Service for Mr. Wieland will be 3:00 pm Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at The Chapel of Burgess Funeral Home officiated by Rev. Danny C. Blackwell.  Burial will follow at Elmwood Cemetery in Fort Lawn with military honors.  Social distancing and masks are required.

The family will receive friends from 1:00-2:45 pm, prior to the service, at Burgess Funeral Home.  In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Fort Lawn Presbyterian Church, 3 Lynn Lane, Great Falls, SC 29055 or the Southern States Police Benevolence Association, Police Benevolent Foundation, 2155 Highway 42 South, McDonough, GA 30252.