George Dewitt Abercrombie, 87, departed this life on Friday, December 4, 2009. George was the first of eight children born to George and Vivian Celeste Abercrombie on November 9, 1922 in Plantersville, Alabama. He was raised in the church and confessed Christ at an early age. His family relocated to Birmingham, Alabama when George was young. While attending Ullman High School, he was drafted into the Armed Forces of which he later made a career.
During his military career he met and fell in love with his partner for life. While stationed in Germany in 1954, George married Edele Mellein in Heidelberg.
George served in the U.S. Army and fought in World War II. He was transferred to the Tuskegee Army Air Field in 1943 and became a member of the pioneering group of African-American pilots, officers and support staff now known as the "Tuskegee Airmen". He was in charge of maintenance of flying records, logging of air time and development of charts for flying acrobatics, cross-country, instrument flying, and flying in formation. During his military service, George taught electronics/communications in the Army's signal school. He matriculated at Howard University; graduated with a certificate from RCA Institute of Technology in 1950 and trained primarily at the Pentagon. During WWII, he participated in radio broadcast and leaflet drops – psychological warfare. He retired from the military in May 1968 as a Chief Warrant Officer after serving 23 years.
He graduated from Empire State College in 1974 with a degree in business management and economics. He had also worked toward an M.B.A. at St. John's University.
George later took a second career as an engineer at IBM in 1969 and retired as an engineering manager. After retiring from IBM in 1992 he and Edele relocated to Odessa, Florida.
In March 2007, George, along with approximately 300 surviving members of the Tuskegee Airmen, received Congress's highest honor: The Congressional Gold Medal.
He was featured in the State University of New York, Empire State College Alumni and Student News Magazine Fall 2007 article "Flying High: A Tuskegee Airman Gets His Due".
George enjoyed music, especially jazz, and dancing including ballroom dancing. He also enjoyed tennis.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Fred Abercrombie, Bernice A. Harris, Vera A. Mumphrey and Roosevelt Abercrombie.
He leaves to cherish his memory: a loving and devoted wife, Edele Abercrombie; one daughter, Gabriele Haffner and her husband, Heinz Haffner; Vista, California, one son, Jules Abercrombie, formerly of Guttenberg, New Jersey; one granddaughter, Nicole Haffner, Vista, California; one brother and his wife, Jesse (Violet) Abercrombie, Parkchester, New York; sisters, Ruby A. Patton, Birmingham, Alabama, Juanita (Jabie) Abercrombie, Las Vegas, Nevada; a sister-in-law, Virginia Patton Abercrombie, Trenton, New Jersey; a special friend, Julia Saunders, New Rochelle, New York; and a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.
During his military career he met and fell in love with his partner for life. While stationed in Germany in 1954, George married Edele Mellein in Heidelberg.
George served in the U.S. Army and fought in World War II. He was transferred to the Tuskegee Army Air Field in 1943 and became a member of the pioneering group of African-American pilots, officers and support staff now known as the "Tuskegee Airmen". He was in charge of maintenance of flying records, logging of air time and development of charts for flying acrobatics, cross-country, instrument flying, and flying in formation. During his military service, George taught electronics/communications in the Army's signal school. He matriculated at Howard University; graduated with a certificate from RCA Institute of Technology in 1950 and trained primarily at the Pentagon. During WWII, he participated in radio broadcast and leaflet drops – psychological warfare. He retired from the military in May 1968 as a Chief Warrant Officer after serving 23 years.
He graduated from Empire State College in 1974 with a degree in business management and economics. He had also worked toward an M.B.A. at St. John's University.
George later took a second career as an engineer at IBM in 1969 and retired as an engineering manager. After retiring from IBM in 1992 he and Edele relocated to Odessa, Florida.
In March 2007, George, along with approximately 300 surviving members of the Tuskegee Airmen, received Congress's highest honor: The Congressional Gold Medal.
He was featured in the State University of New York, Empire State College Alumni and Student News Magazine Fall 2007 article "Flying High: A Tuskegee Airman Gets His Due".
George enjoyed music, especially jazz, and dancing including ballroom dancing. He also enjoyed tennis.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Fred Abercrombie, Bernice A. Harris, Vera A. Mumphrey and Roosevelt Abercrombie.
He leaves to cherish his memory: a loving and devoted wife, Edele Abercrombie; one daughter, Gabriele Haffner and her husband, Heinz Haffner; Vista, California, one son, Jules Abercrombie, formerly of Guttenberg, New Jersey; one granddaughter, Nicole Haffner, Vista, California; one brother and his wife, Jesse (Violet) Abercrombie, Parkchester, New York; sisters, Ruby A. Patton, Birmingham, Alabama, Juanita (Jabie) Abercrombie, Las Vegas, Nevada; a sister-in-law, Virginia Patton Abercrombie, Trenton, New Jersey; a special friend, Julia Saunders, New Rochelle, New York; and a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.
George Dewitt Abercrombie, 87, departed this life on Friday, December 4, 2009. George was the first of eight children born to George and Vivian Celeste Abercrombie on November 9, 1922 in Plantersville, Alabama. He was raised in the church and confessed Christ at an early age. His family relocated to Birmingham, Alabama when George was young. While attending Ullman High School, he was drafted into the Armed Forces of which he later made a career.
During his military career he met and fell in love with his partner for life. While stationed in Germany in 1954, George married Edele Mellein in Heidelberg.
George served in the U.S. Army and fought in World War II. He was transferred to the Tuskegee Army Air Field in 1943 and became a member of the pioneering group of African-American pilots, officers and support staff now known as the "Tuskegee Airmen". He was in charge of maintenance of flying records, logging of air time and development of charts for flying acrobatics, cross-country, instrument flying, and flying in formation. During his military service, George taught electronics/communications in the Army's signal school. He matriculated at Howard University; graduated with a certificate from RCA Institute of Technology in 1950 and trained primarily at the Pentagon. During WWII, he participated in radio broadcast and leaflet drops – psychological warfare. He retired from the military in May 1968 as a Chief Warrant Officer after serving 23 years.
He graduated from Empire State College in 1974 with a degree in business management and economics. He had also worked toward an M.B.A. at St. John's University.
George later took a second career as an engineer at IBM in 1969 and retired as an engineering manager. After retiring from IBM in 1992 he and Edele relocated to Odessa, Florida.
In March 2007, George, along with approximately 300 surviving members of the Tuskegee Airmen, received Congress's highest honor: The Congressional Gold Medal.
He was featured in the State University of New York, Empire State College Alumni and Student News Magazine Fall 2007 article "Flying High: A Tuskegee Airman Gets His Due".
George enjoyed music, especially jazz, and dancing including ballroom dancing. He also enjoyed tennis.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Fred Abercrombie, Bernice A. Harris, Vera A. Mumphrey and Roosevelt Abercrombie.
He leaves to cherish his memory: a loving and devoted wife, Edele Abercrombie; one daughter, Gabriele Haffner and her husband, Heinz Haffner; Vista, California, one son, Jules Abercrombie, formerly of Guttenberg, New Jersey; one granddaughter, Nicole Haffner, Vista, California; one brother and his wife, Jesse (Violet) Abercrombie, Parkchester, New York; sisters, Ruby A. Patton, Birmingham, Alabama, Juanita (Jabie) Abercrombie, Las Vegas, Nevada; a sister-in-law, Virginia Patton Abercrombie, Trenton, New Jersey; a special friend, Julia Saunders, New Rochelle, New York; and a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.
During his military career he met and fell in love with his partner for life. While stationed in Germany in 1954, George married Edele Mellein in Heidelberg.
George served in the U.S. Army and fought in World War II. He was transferred to the Tuskegee Army Air Field in 1943 and became a member of the pioneering group of African-American pilots, officers and support staff now known as the "Tuskegee Airmen". He was in charge of maintenance of flying records, logging of air time and development of charts for flying acrobatics, cross-country, instrument flying, and flying in formation. During his military service, George taught electronics/communications in the Army's signal school. He matriculated at Howard University; graduated with a certificate from RCA Institute of Technology in 1950 and trained primarily at the Pentagon. During WWII, he participated in radio broadcast and leaflet drops – psychological warfare. He retired from the military in May 1968 as a Chief Warrant Officer after serving 23 years.
He graduated from Empire State College in 1974 with a degree in business management and economics. He had also worked toward an M.B.A. at St. John's University.
George later took a second career as an engineer at IBM in 1969 and retired as an engineering manager. After retiring from IBM in 1992 he and Edele relocated to Odessa, Florida.
In March 2007, George, along with approximately 300 surviving members of the Tuskegee Airmen, received Congress's highest honor: The Congressional Gold Medal.
He was featured in the State University of New York, Empire State College Alumni and Student News Magazine Fall 2007 article "Flying High: A Tuskegee Airman Gets His Due".
George enjoyed music, especially jazz, and dancing including ballroom dancing. He also enjoyed tennis.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Fred Abercrombie, Bernice A. Harris, Vera A. Mumphrey and Roosevelt Abercrombie.
He leaves to cherish his memory: a loving and devoted wife, Edele Abercrombie; one daughter, Gabriele Haffner and her husband, Heinz Haffner; Vista, California, one son, Jules Abercrombie, formerly of Guttenberg, New Jersey; one granddaughter, Nicole Haffner, Vista, California; one brother and his wife, Jesse (Violet) Abercrombie, Parkchester, New York; sisters, Ruby A. Patton, Birmingham, Alabama, Juanita (Jabie) Abercrombie, Las Vegas, Nevada; a sister-in-law, Virginia Patton Abercrombie, Trenton, New Jersey; a special friend, Julia Saunders, New Rochelle, New York; and a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.
Inscription
Chief Warrant Officer 2
U.S. Army
World War II
Korea
Tuskegee
Airmen
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