KENDALLVILLE - Bill B. Abbs, age 81, died on Sunday, December 5, 2004 at 2:20pm at his home. He had retired after a 35 year career in public education, serving four public school systems and a countless number of children as teacher, coach and mentor.
Bill began his career in Cromwell, Indiana, where he coached the high school basketball and baseball teams and taught. His next move was to Etna Green where he was Principal for the entire school system. Bill came to the Kendallville Schools in 1958 to be the first Principal to serve the initial South Side Elementary School in addition to being Principal of Central Elementary School and Athletic Director for Kendallville High School. Bill completed his career with East Noble Schools, serving as attendance officer for the entire system and teaching math. On two occasions, the East Noble Board asked Bill to serve in interim roles, first as Assistant Superintendent of Schools and later as Rome City Principal. Bill taught driver's education for 24 consecutive summer schools.
Bill was a Lion's Club member while living in Cromwell and the Etna Green, holding the position of President for each club. A life long Methodist, Bill served the Etna Green Methodist Church as trustee and Sunday school Superintendent and the Kendallville Trinity Church as trustee and fifth grade Sunday school class teacher.
He was a life long member of the teachers association holding positions a both the local and state level. Bill supported the youth of Kendallville community through his service as a director and president of the both Boys Club of Kendallville and the Youth Center. He was a member of the American Legion Post 86.
Bill was born December 30, 1922 in Wauseon, Ohio to Lloyd B. and Nell G. (Bruning) Abbs.
Athletics were an important part of his life. Bill was a three-sport athlete for all four years of high school. He was unanimously selected quarterback for the Northwestern Ohio All-Conference Football Team both his junior and senior years and was named as the conference Player of the Year as a senior. Bill continued his football career while attending Manchester College in Indiana. His college years were interrupted when he joined the US Army during World War II. Assigned to the ordnance division a Aberdeen Proving Grounds, he became an instructor of bomb disposal. After the war, Bill returned to Indiana and Machester College and Indiana University to earn his bachelor and master degrees in education.
While in the Army, Bill married his high school sweetheart, Jane Geringer, in the Grace Methodist Church of Aberdeen, Maryland. On March 24th of this year, Bill and Jane celebrated 60 years of marriage.
Bill is survived by his loving wife, Jane, daughter, Jan Patrice Abbs and her husband John Knox of Muncie, Indiana and son, James J. Abbs and his wife, Jan Harkner Abbs and daughter-in-law, Sue Reiske Abbs, both of Kendallville. They have five grandchildren Troy, Trevor and Bryce Abbs and Jordan and Jessica Knox.
He was preceded in death by his loving son, Scott B. Abbs, and parents and only sister Sally Abbs Fischer.
Visitation will be Wednesday, 12-8-04, from 4:00-8:00pm at Hite Funeral Home in Kendallville.
Funeral services will be Thursday, 12-9-04, at 11:00 AM at Hite Funeral Home.
Burial will be at the Orange Cemetery near Rome City.
Memorials are to East Noble Football Booster Club.
Send condolences to the family or sign the online register book at www.hitefuneralhom.com
Hite Funeral Home 260-347-1653
Bill began his career in Cromwell, Indiana, where he coached the high school basketball and baseball teams and taught. His next move was to Etna Green where he was Principal for the entire school system. Bill came to the Kendallville Schools in 1958 to be the first Principal to serve the initial South Side Elementary School in addition to being Principal of Central Elementary School and Athletic Director for Kendallville High School. Bill completed his career with East Noble Schools, serving as attendance officer for the entire system and teaching math. On two occasions, the East Noble Board asked Bill to serve in interim roles, first as Assistant Superintendent of Schools and later as Rome City Principal. Bill taught driver's education for 24 consecutive summer schools.
Bill was a Lion's Club member while living in Cromwell and the Etna Green, holding the position of President for each club. A life long Methodist, Bill served the Etna Green Methodist Church as trustee and Sunday school Superintendent and the Kendallville Trinity Church as trustee and fifth grade Sunday school class teacher.
He was a life long member of the teachers association holding positions a both the local and state level. Bill supported the youth of Kendallville community through his service as a director and president of the both Boys Club of Kendallville and the Youth Center. He was a member of the American Legion Post 86.
Bill was born December 30, 1922 in Wauseon, Ohio to Lloyd B. and Nell G. (Bruning) Abbs.
Athletics were an important part of his life. Bill was a three-sport athlete for all four years of high school. He was unanimously selected quarterback for the Northwestern Ohio All-Conference Football Team both his junior and senior years and was named as the conference Player of the Year as a senior. Bill continued his football career while attending Manchester College in Indiana. His college years were interrupted when he joined the US Army during World War II. Assigned to the ordnance division a Aberdeen Proving Grounds, he became an instructor of bomb disposal. After the war, Bill returned to Indiana and Machester College and Indiana University to earn his bachelor and master degrees in education.
While in the Army, Bill married his high school sweetheart, Jane Geringer, in the Grace Methodist Church of Aberdeen, Maryland. On March 24th of this year, Bill and Jane celebrated 60 years of marriage.
Bill is survived by his loving wife, Jane, daughter, Jan Patrice Abbs and her husband John Knox of Muncie, Indiana and son, James J. Abbs and his wife, Jan Harkner Abbs and daughter-in-law, Sue Reiske Abbs, both of Kendallville. They have five grandchildren Troy, Trevor and Bryce Abbs and Jordan and Jessica Knox.
He was preceded in death by his loving son, Scott B. Abbs, and parents and only sister Sally Abbs Fischer.
Visitation will be Wednesday, 12-8-04, from 4:00-8:00pm at Hite Funeral Home in Kendallville.
Funeral services will be Thursday, 12-9-04, at 11:00 AM at Hite Funeral Home.
Burial will be at the Orange Cemetery near Rome City.
Memorials are to East Noble Football Booster Club.
Send condolences to the family or sign the online register book at www.hitefuneralhom.com
Hite Funeral Home 260-347-1653
KENDALLVILLE - Bill B. Abbs, age 81, died on Sunday, December 5, 2004 at 2:20pm at his home. He had retired after a 35 year career in public education, serving four public school systems and a countless number of children as teacher, coach and mentor.
Bill began his career in Cromwell, Indiana, where he coached the high school basketball and baseball teams and taught. His next move was to Etna Green where he was Principal for the entire school system. Bill came to the Kendallville Schools in 1958 to be the first Principal to serve the initial South Side Elementary School in addition to being Principal of Central Elementary School and Athletic Director for Kendallville High School. Bill completed his career with East Noble Schools, serving as attendance officer for the entire system and teaching math. On two occasions, the East Noble Board asked Bill to serve in interim roles, first as Assistant Superintendent of Schools and later as Rome City Principal. Bill taught driver's education for 24 consecutive summer schools.
Bill was a Lion's Club member while living in Cromwell and the Etna Green, holding the position of President for each club. A life long Methodist, Bill served the Etna Green Methodist Church as trustee and Sunday school Superintendent and the Kendallville Trinity Church as trustee and fifth grade Sunday school class teacher.
He was a life long member of the teachers association holding positions a both the local and state level. Bill supported the youth of Kendallville community through his service as a director and president of the both Boys Club of Kendallville and the Youth Center. He was a member of the American Legion Post 86.
Bill was born December 30, 1922 in Wauseon, Ohio to Lloyd B. and Nell G. (Bruning) Abbs.
Athletics were an important part of his life. Bill was a three-sport athlete for all four years of high school. He was unanimously selected quarterback for the Northwestern Ohio All-Conference Football Team both his junior and senior years and was named as the conference Player of the Year as a senior. Bill continued his football career while attending Manchester College in Indiana. His college years were interrupted when he joined the US Army during World War II. Assigned to the ordnance division a Aberdeen Proving Grounds, he became an instructor of bomb disposal. After the war, Bill returned to Indiana and Machester College and Indiana University to earn his bachelor and master degrees in education.
While in the Army, Bill married his high school sweetheart, Jane Geringer, in the Grace Methodist Church of Aberdeen, Maryland. On March 24th of this year, Bill and Jane celebrated 60 years of marriage.
Bill is survived by his loving wife, Jane, daughter, Jan Patrice Abbs and her husband John Knox of Muncie, Indiana and son, James J. Abbs and his wife, Jan Harkner Abbs and daughter-in-law, Sue Reiske Abbs, both of Kendallville. They have five grandchildren Troy, Trevor and Bryce Abbs and Jordan and Jessica Knox.
He was preceded in death by his loving son, Scott B. Abbs, and parents and only sister Sally Abbs Fischer.
Visitation will be Wednesday, 12-8-04, from 4:00-8:00pm at Hite Funeral Home in Kendallville.
Funeral services will be Thursday, 12-9-04, at 11:00 AM at Hite Funeral Home.
Burial will be at the Orange Cemetery near Rome City.
Memorials are to East Noble Football Booster Club.
Send condolences to the family or sign the online register book at www.hitefuneralhom.com
Hite Funeral Home 260-347-1653
Bill began his career in Cromwell, Indiana, where he coached the high school basketball and baseball teams and taught. His next move was to Etna Green where he was Principal for the entire school system. Bill came to the Kendallville Schools in 1958 to be the first Principal to serve the initial South Side Elementary School in addition to being Principal of Central Elementary School and Athletic Director for Kendallville High School. Bill completed his career with East Noble Schools, serving as attendance officer for the entire system and teaching math. On two occasions, the East Noble Board asked Bill to serve in interim roles, first as Assistant Superintendent of Schools and later as Rome City Principal. Bill taught driver's education for 24 consecutive summer schools.
Bill was a Lion's Club member while living in Cromwell and the Etna Green, holding the position of President for each club. A life long Methodist, Bill served the Etna Green Methodist Church as trustee and Sunday school Superintendent and the Kendallville Trinity Church as trustee and fifth grade Sunday school class teacher.
He was a life long member of the teachers association holding positions a both the local and state level. Bill supported the youth of Kendallville community through his service as a director and president of the both Boys Club of Kendallville and the Youth Center. He was a member of the American Legion Post 86.
Bill was born December 30, 1922 in Wauseon, Ohio to Lloyd B. and Nell G. (Bruning) Abbs.
Athletics were an important part of his life. Bill was a three-sport athlete for all four years of high school. He was unanimously selected quarterback for the Northwestern Ohio All-Conference Football Team both his junior and senior years and was named as the conference Player of the Year as a senior. Bill continued his football career while attending Manchester College in Indiana. His college years were interrupted when he joined the US Army during World War II. Assigned to the ordnance division a Aberdeen Proving Grounds, he became an instructor of bomb disposal. After the war, Bill returned to Indiana and Machester College and Indiana University to earn his bachelor and master degrees in education.
While in the Army, Bill married his high school sweetheart, Jane Geringer, in the Grace Methodist Church of Aberdeen, Maryland. On March 24th of this year, Bill and Jane celebrated 60 years of marriage.
Bill is survived by his loving wife, Jane, daughter, Jan Patrice Abbs and her husband John Knox of Muncie, Indiana and son, James J. Abbs and his wife, Jan Harkner Abbs and daughter-in-law, Sue Reiske Abbs, both of Kendallville. They have five grandchildren Troy, Trevor and Bryce Abbs and Jordan and Jessica Knox.
He was preceded in death by his loving son, Scott B. Abbs, and parents and only sister Sally Abbs Fischer.
Visitation will be Wednesday, 12-8-04, from 4:00-8:00pm at Hite Funeral Home in Kendallville.
Funeral services will be Thursday, 12-9-04, at 11:00 AM at Hite Funeral Home.
Burial will be at the Orange Cemetery near Rome City.
Memorials are to East Noble Football Booster Club.
Send condolences to the family or sign the online register book at www.hitefuneralhom.com
Hite Funeral Home 260-347-1653
Family Members
Children
