George A. Butler, 69, Ex-head Of Corestates

George A. Butler, 69, a former president of CoreStates Financial Corp. who spent more than 40 years in banking, died of cancer Friday at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He lived in Blue Bell.

Mr. Butler had been chairman and chief executive of the former First Pennsylvania Bank and Corp. before its merger with CoreStates in 1990. He was then named president of CoreStates and served in that position until retiring in 1991.

He is perhaps best remembered for shepherding First Pennsylvania through hard times in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when the bank's investment strategy went awry and profits skidded.

Mr. Butler was named president in 1977 and chief executive two years later. One of his first moves was to telephone presidents and chief executives of major banks across the country, seeking financial aid.

``Mr. Butler told them he was in charge,'' said his longtime former secretary, Helene Agnew, ``and when a package was put together all the banks participated in the loans.''

First Pennsylvania revamped its portfolio strategy with the borrowings and soon returned to respectability, with Mr. Butler giving credit for the turnaround to his staff.

Perhaps little remembered, Agnew said, is that First Pennsylvania repaid the loans.

Aside from banking and his hobbies of music and golf, Mr. Butler devoted many hours to community service, which he held as an obligation, friends said.

He served either as chairman, trustee or volunteer in numerous organizations, including the local American Red Cross, Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, the Boy Scouts, Salvation Army, United Way, La Salle University, Greater Philadelphia First Corp., Thomas Jefferson University and the Cancer Center of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

His work and activities often took him away from home for long spells. When once asked who was the most important person he had met, Mr. Butler answered easily and without hesitation - his wife of 47 years, Barbara Thomas Butler.

``Mr. Butler gave his wife the credit for taking care of the family, which was very important to him,'' Agnew said. ''He was a good father.''

Mr. Butler was born in Westmont, N.J., and grew up in Germantown. He graduated from Germantown High School and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

His college education was interrupted with a stint in the Army with occupational forces in Japan after World War II.

Besides his wife, Mr. Butler is survived by two sons, William E. and Thomas S.; two daughters, Lynn Strange and Pamela Berrard; two brothers; and seven grandchilden.

A viewing will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Helweg Funeral Home, 463 Old York Rd., Jenkintown. A funeral service will be at noon Thursday at Chestnut Hill Presbyterian Church, 8855 Germantown Ave. Burial will be private.