Captain Walter B. Abney, 51, a native and lifelong resident of Slidell, passed away on Friday, April 2, 2021 (Good Friday) in Covington, Louisiana.
Walter was born on April 6, 1969 (Easter Sunday), in Slidell, Louisiana, to Robert and Lynn Abney, Jr.
He is survived by his wife of 19 years, Lesley Crockett Abney; one daughter, Peyton Abney; his parents, Robert and Lynn Abney, Jr.; brother, Robert Abney III (Wendi); sister, Monica Abney Duhon (Lamar); nieces, nephews; in-laws, William and Deborah Crockett; and other relatives.
After graduating from Salmen High School in 1987, Walter attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy and graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Transportation/Nautical Science. He was then commissioned as a Naval officer and joined the Military Sealift Command. He was known throughout the fleet for his superb ability to handle, transport, and UNREP Navel ammunition. Walter worked his way up the ranks, literally mastering his craft of Marine Transportation. At a young age, he sailed Master aboard the USNS Shughart and USNS Pililaau, the first ship in Kuwait when Operation Iraqi Freedom commenced in 2003.
Being a boy from the bayou, Captain Walter Abney always wanted to return home to pursue his dream of navigating the Mighty Mississippi River. His goal was to become a Crescent River Port Pilot. Crescent Pilots are regarded among the best ship handlers in the world. Pilots are commissioned by the State of Louisiana to protect Louisiana and mitigate the extraordinary risks on the Lower Mississippi River. He achieved all licenses required by the United States Coast Guard and completed an expansive apprenticeship under the tutelage of over more than one hundred seasoned pilots, progressively graduating to take command of some of the largest ships in the world. Ships that carry 60% of the world's grain, some of the most explosive materials known to man, as well as nearly every product we touch in daily life. Elected as a Crescent River Port Pilot on July 1, 2004, Captain Walter Abney ranks among a select group of men and women entrusted with navigating each foreign ship entering the port. Pilots are first-line ambassadors of the state, tasked with securing the state's offering of safe commerce and tourism. Captain Walter Abney was one of only 1,200 others in the United States that are licensed and experienced to do this job, one of the most dangerous jobs in the world due to the potential for catastrophic damage that surrounds it because of the sensitive nature of the river, the ships, and the cargo. He performed at the highest level, committing 100% of his focus, expertise, and skill in order to keep Louisiana's environment, ecosystems, and economy of the river safe.
During his tenure as a Crescent Pilot, Walter also served on the Board of Directors with other pilots to share in leadership for the association. In reflection of Walter's career, Mark Twain's words described well the mind of a ship pilot: "Your true pilot cares nothing about anything on earth but the river, and his pride in his occupation surpasses the pride of kings."
With a promising future ahead of him at the young age of 42, Captain Abney's health presented insurmountable challenges and forced him to retire December 21, 2011. While this turn of events was unexpected for a man with his vigor, he found his new life back on the bayou a welcome adventure, one which now afforded him such pleasure with his lovely wife, Lesley, and his cherished daughter, Peyton.
"Piloting on the Mississippi River was not work to me; it was play -- delightful play, vigorous play, adventurous play -- and I loved it..." Mark Twain in Eruption.
Memorial Services will be held on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 at St. Genevieve Catholic Church, 58203 LA-433, Slidell, LA, at 11:00 am. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m.
Burial will be in St. Joseph Abbey Cemetery in Covington, LA.
Walter was born on April 6, 1969 (Easter Sunday), in Slidell, Louisiana, to Robert and Lynn Abney, Jr.
He is survived by his wife of 19 years, Lesley Crockett Abney; one daughter, Peyton Abney; his parents, Robert and Lynn Abney, Jr.; brother, Robert Abney III (Wendi); sister, Monica Abney Duhon (Lamar); nieces, nephews; in-laws, William and Deborah Crockett; and other relatives.
After graduating from Salmen High School in 1987, Walter attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy and graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Transportation/Nautical Science. He was then commissioned as a Naval officer and joined the Military Sealift Command. He was known throughout the fleet for his superb ability to handle, transport, and UNREP Navel ammunition. Walter worked his way up the ranks, literally mastering his craft of Marine Transportation. At a young age, he sailed Master aboard the USNS Shughart and USNS Pililaau, the first ship in Kuwait when Operation Iraqi Freedom commenced in 2003.
Being a boy from the bayou, Captain Walter Abney always wanted to return home to pursue his dream of navigating the Mighty Mississippi River. His goal was to become a Crescent River Port Pilot. Crescent Pilots are regarded among the best ship handlers in the world. Pilots are commissioned by the State of Louisiana to protect Louisiana and mitigate the extraordinary risks on the Lower Mississippi River. He achieved all licenses required by the United States Coast Guard and completed an expansive apprenticeship under the tutelage of over more than one hundred seasoned pilots, progressively graduating to take command of some of the largest ships in the world. Ships that carry 60% of the world's grain, some of the most explosive materials known to man, as well as nearly every product we touch in daily life. Elected as a Crescent River Port Pilot on July 1, 2004, Captain Walter Abney ranks among a select group of men and women entrusted with navigating each foreign ship entering the port. Pilots are first-line ambassadors of the state, tasked with securing the state's offering of safe commerce and tourism. Captain Walter Abney was one of only 1,200 others in the United States that are licensed and experienced to do this job, one of the most dangerous jobs in the world due to the potential for catastrophic damage that surrounds it because of the sensitive nature of the river, the ships, and the cargo. He performed at the highest level, committing 100% of his focus, expertise, and skill in order to keep Louisiana's environment, ecosystems, and economy of the river safe.
During his tenure as a Crescent Pilot, Walter also served on the Board of Directors with other pilots to share in leadership for the association. In reflection of Walter's career, Mark Twain's words described well the mind of a ship pilot: "Your true pilot cares nothing about anything on earth but the river, and his pride in his occupation surpasses the pride of kings."
With a promising future ahead of him at the young age of 42, Captain Abney's health presented insurmountable challenges and forced him to retire December 21, 2011. While this turn of events was unexpected for a man with his vigor, he found his new life back on the bayou a welcome adventure, one which now afforded him such pleasure with his lovely wife, Lesley, and his cherished daughter, Peyton.
"Piloting on the Mississippi River was not work to me; it was play -- delightful play, vigorous play, adventurous play -- and I loved it..." Mark Twain in Eruption.
Memorial Services will be held on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 at St. Genevieve Catholic Church, 58203 LA-433, Slidell, LA, at 11:00 am. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m.
Burial will be in St. Joseph Abbey Cemetery in Covington, LA.
Captain Walter B. Abney, 51, a native and lifelong resident of Slidell, passed away on Friday, April 2, 2021 (Good Friday) in Covington, Louisiana.
Walter was born on April 6, 1969 (Easter Sunday), in Slidell, Louisiana, to Robert and Lynn Abney, Jr.
He is survived by his wife of 19 years, Lesley Crockett Abney; one daughter, Peyton Abney; his parents, Robert and Lynn Abney, Jr.; brother, Robert Abney III (Wendi); sister, Monica Abney Duhon (Lamar); nieces, nephews; in-laws, William and Deborah Crockett; and other relatives.
After graduating from Salmen High School in 1987, Walter attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy and graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Transportation/Nautical Science. He was then commissioned as a Naval officer and joined the Military Sealift Command. He was known throughout the fleet for his superb ability to handle, transport, and UNREP Navel ammunition. Walter worked his way up the ranks, literally mastering his craft of Marine Transportation. At a young age, he sailed Master aboard the USNS Shughart and USNS Pililaau, the first ship in Kuwait when Operation Iraqi Freedom commenced in 2003.
Being a boy from the bayou, Captain Walter Abney always wanted to return home to pursue his dream of navigating the Mighty Mississippi River. His goal was to become a Crescent River Port Pilot. Crescent Pilots are regarded among the best ship handlers in the world. Pilots are commissioned by the State of Louisiana to protect Louisiana and mitigate the extraordinary risks on the Lower Mississippi River. He achieved all licenses required by the United States Coast Guard and completed an expansive apprenticeship under the tutelage of over more than one hundred seasoned pilots, progressively graduating to take command of some of the largest ships in the world. Ships that carry 60% of the world's grain, some of the most explosive materials known to man, as well as nearly every product we touch in daily life. Elected as a Crescent River Port Pilot on July 1, 2004, Captain Walter Abney ranks among a select group of men and women entrusted with navigating each foreign ship entering the port. Pilots are first-line ambassadors of the state, tasked with securing the state's offering of safe commerce and tourism. Captain Walter Abney was one of only 1,200 others in the United States that are licensed and experienced to do this job, one of the most dangerous jobs in the world due to the potential for catastrophic damage that surrounds it because of the sensitive nature of the river, the ships, and the cargo. He performed at the highest level, committing 100% of his focus, expertise, and skill in order to keep Louisiana's environment, ecosystems, and economy of the river safe.
During his tenure as a Crescent Pilot, Walter also served on the Board of Directors with other pilots to share in leadership for the association. In reflection of Walter's career, Mark Twain's words described well the mind of a ship pilot: "Your true pilot cares nothing about anything on earth but the river, and his pride in his occupation surpasses the pride of kings."
With a promising future ahead of him at the young age of 42, Captain Abney's health presented insurmountable challenges and forced him to retire December 21, 2011. While this turn of events was unexpected for a man with his vigor, he found his new life back on the bayou a welcome adventure, one which now afforded him such pleasure with his lovely wife, Lesley, and his cherished daughter, Peyton.
"Piloting on the Mississippi River was not work to me; it was play -- delightful play, vigorous play, adventurous play -- and I loved it..." Mark Twain in Eruption.
Memorial Services will be held on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 at St. Genevieve Catholic Church, 58203 LA-433, Slidell, LA, at 11:00 am. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m.
Burial will be in St. Joseph Abbey Cemetery in Covington, LA.
Walter was born on April 6, 1969 (Easter Sunday), in Slidell, Louisiana, to Robert and Lynn Abney, Jr.
He is survived by his wife of 19 years, Lesley Crockett Abney; one daughter, Peyton Abney; his parents, Robert and Lynn Abney, Jr.; brother, Robert Abney III (Wendi); sister, Monica Abney Duhon (Lamar); nieces, nephews; in-laws, William and Deborah Crockett; and other relatives.
After graduating from Salmen High School in 1987, Walter attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy and graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Transportation/Nautical Science. He was then commissioned as a Naval officer and joined the Military Sealift Command. He was known throughout the fleet for his superb ability to handle, transport, and UNREP Navel ammunition. Walter worked his way up the ranks, literally mastering his craft of Marine Transportation. At a young age, he sailed Master aboard the USNS Shughart and USNS Pililaau, the first ship in Kuwait when Operation Iraqi Freedom commenced in 2003.
Being a boy from the bayou, Captain Walter Abney always wanted to return home to pursue his dream of navigating the Mighty Mississippi River. His goal was to become a Crescent River Port Pilot. Crescent Pilots are regarded among the best ship handlers in the world. Pilots are commissioned by the State of Louisiana to protect Louisiana and mitigate the extraordinary risks on the Lower Mississippi River. He achieved all licenses required by the United States Coast Guard and completed an expansive apprenticeship under the tutelage of over more than one hundred seasoned pilots, progressively graduating to take command of some of the largest ships in the world. Ships that carry 60% of the world's grain, some of the most explosive materials known to man, as well as nearly every product we touch in daily life. Elected as a Crescent River Port Pilot on July 1, 2004, Captain Walter Abney ranks among a select group of men and women entrusted with navigating each foreign ship entering the port. Pilots are first-line ambassadors of the state, tasked with securing the state's offering of safe commerce and tourism. Captain Walter Abney was one of only 1,200 others in the United States that are licensed and experienced to do this job, one of the most dangerous jobs in the world due to the potential for catastrophic damage that surrounds it because of the sensitive nature of the river, the ships, and the cargo. He performed at the highest level, committing 100% of his focus, expertise, and skill in order to keep Louisiana's environment, ecosystems, and economy of the river safe.
During his tenure as a Crescent Pilot, Walter also served on the Board of Directors with other pilots to share in leadership for the association. In reflection of Walter's career, Mark Twain's words described well the mind of a ship pilot: "Your true pilot cares nothing about anything on earth but the river, and his pride in his occupation surpasses the pride of kings."
With a promising future ahead of him at the young age of 42, Captain Abney's health presented insurmountable challenges and forced him to retire December 21, 2011. While this turn of events was unexpected for a man with his vigor, he found his new life back on the bayou a welcome adventure, one which now afforded him such pleasure with his lovely wife, Lesley, and his cherished daughter, Peyton.
"Piloting on the Mississippi River was not work to me; it was play -- delightful play, vigorous play, adventurous play -- and I loved it..." Mark Twain in Eruption.
Memorial Services will be held on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 at St. Genevieve Catholic Church, 58203 LA-433, Slidell, LA, at 11:00 am. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m.
Burial will be in St. Joseph Abbey Cemetery in Covington, LA.
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