Mr. Kenneth L. Abbott a son of the late Buford and Flora Matthews Abbott. He has been a resident of Boone for 28 years.
Mr. Abbott graduated from Saginaw High School, Saginaw, Mich., in 1943 and was drafted immediately into the U.S. Army. In 1944 he was sent to Europe where he served in several combat infantry units in France, Germany and Austria. Following VE Day, he was assigned to the Four Power Occupation Force in Vienna, Austria until his discharge.
Returning to the U.S., Ken attended Michigan State University. He received a degree from Michigan State in 1949. Later he did graduate work at the University of Michigan.
He worked for AT&T and the Bell Telephone System for 32 Years. Most of his work career involved financial and accounting activities. Following retirement, he spent a few years as a consultant to various communications companies around the country. He was a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America.
While living in the Detroit area, Ken served on several committees and boards. These included the New Detroit Hospital Committee, the Congressional Action Council of the Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce and the Advisory Committee of the University of Detroit. He was a member of the Economic Club of Detroit and the Tax Executives Institute.
Locally, in the Boone area, Ken volunteered with a number of groups, including service on the Board of Hospice of Watauga County, on the Board and Treasurer of High Country United Way, as a member of Boone Planning Commission and as Treasurer of Santa's Toy Box and as Treasurer of the Boone Kiwanis Scholarship Foundation.
He was a member of Kiwanis for more than 25 years and was Secretary/Treasurer of the Kiwanis Club of Boone for many years. He served as advisor to the Key Club at Watauga High School for a number of years.
Mr. Abbott and his wife, Dorothy, have been members of the ASU Institute for Senior Scholars since its inception in 1986.
He was active in several churches during his life. He was an Elder in the Presbyterian Church of Milburn, New Jersey. Also, he was an Elder and Treasurer of the First Presbyterian Church of Farmington Hills, Michigan, and the First Presbyterian Church of Boone.
Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Dorothy Abbott of Boone; one son, Calvin Abbott and wife, Lani, of Austin, Texas; three daughters, Julia Canavan and husband, Dennis, of Allegan, Mich., Sue Butler and husband, Al, of Woodstock, Ill., and Carol Warncke and husband, Richard, of Livonia, Mich.; three granddaughters, Bridget Siedlecki and husband, John, Megan Rich and husband, Patrick, and Kendra Warncke; five grandsons, Corey Butler, Graham Butler, Aaron Wine and wife, Kim, Jeremy Wine, and Matt Ryan and wife, Stephanie; one brother, Robert Abbott and wife, Anne, of East Lansing, Mich.; and two sisters, Alleyne Baumgartner of Beaver Falls, Pa., and Margie Bessette and husband, Roland, of Fair Grove, Missouri. He is also survived by three great-grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Buford and Flora Matthews Abbott; and one grandson, Patrick Ryan.