Shelbyville News 25 Sep 1998
Gail S. Abernathy

Gail S. Abernathy, 83, Rushville, died Thursday at Rush Memorial Hospital. He had relatives in Shelby County.

Mr. Abernathy was born Aug. 17, 1915, in Rush County to Glenn and Mary (Ertel) Abernathy. He married Annamae (Kennedy Wilson) Abernathy on March 27, 1983, and she survives.

Previously, he married Dorothy (Clifton) Abernathy April 20, 1941, and she preceded him in death Feb. 24, 1982.

He was a farmer in Rush County and in 1995 received the master farmer award from the soil and water conservation district and the Hoosier Homestead award.

Mr. Abernathy was a former Rush County Commissioner. He served on the Rush Memorial Hospital Board, was treasurer of the REMC Board and the Rush County Fair Board and had served as vice president of the First National Bank, Mays.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

Mr. Abernathy was a member of the Raleigh Christian Church, where he served as an elder.

He was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Raleigh and the Murat Shrine in Indianapolis.

Mr. Abernathy was a 1933 graduate of Rushville High School and completed the Agriculture Short Course at Purdue University.

Other survivors include a son, Stephen G. Abernathy, Centerville; a daughter, Susan J. Kirkpatrick, Rushville; a stepson, Jay Wilson, Manilla; three stepdaughters, Dianne Masaya, Zimbabwe, Jennifer Cline, Carnation, Wash., Kathy Bayt, Indianapolis; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Services will be held Monday at 10 a.m. at Moster & Cox Mortuary, Rushville, with the Revs. Tony Augsburger and David Kineman officiating. Burial will be in the East Hill Cemetery, Rushville.

Friends may call from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at the mortuary.

Memorial contributions may be made to Raleigh Christian Church or Johnson Bible College.