MOUNT SAVAGE,MARYLAND -- Merle Richard Abe, 72, of Mount Savage, died Tuesday, April 1, 1997, at his residence.

Born in Fort Ashby, W.Va., Aug. 31, 1924, he was the son of Lucy Virginia (Wright) Abe, Sarasota, Fla., and the late Clarence Raymond Abe.

Mr. Abe was a maintenance electrician at Kansas City Community College, Kansas City, Kan. He retired in 1988. He was a U.S. Navy Seaman First Class in World War II. Mr. Abe was a member of the Old Furnace Church of the Brethren. He was a graduate of Fort Ashby High School in 1943. He graduated from the Lincoln School of Welding, Cleveland, Ohio, in 1949. He was a charter member of the Brethren Church, Bradenton, Fla. He worked as a home missionary, Kansas City, Kan. He also enjoyed his home woodworking shop.

Surviving in addition to his mother are his wife, Mary Louise (Bennett) Abe; a son, the Rev. Stephen E. Abe and wife Susan, Elkins, W.Va.; a daughter, Constance (Abe) Reyes and husband the Rev. Carlos R. Reyes, Mount Savage.; three sisters, G. Dimple Ward and husband Lee, Rochester, N.Y., Esther V. Foltz and husband Willis, Inwood, W.Va., and Marion A. Morgan, Sarasota, Fla.; three granddaughters, Joanna and Stephanie Abe, Elkins, W.Va., and Tabitha Blair, Mount Savage.

Friends will be received at the George-Upchurch Funeral Home, 202 Greene St., on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.

Funeral services will be conducted at the Old Furnace Church of the Brethren on Saturday at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Calvin Roop, the Rev. Stephen E. Abe and the Rev. Carlos R. Reyes officiating.

Interment will be in the Abe Cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers will be Raymond Bennett, Kenneth Bennett, Carl Legeer, Bryce Legeer, Alvin Conner and Randy Shaner.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Old Furnace Church of the Brethren or to the American Cancer Society, 111 S. George St., Cumberland, MD 21502

Publication date:
April 02,1997
Cumberland Times-news
Cumberland,Maryland
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