More detail on this person: Darrel Lee
Abernathy, 80, slipped the surly bonds of Earth to
touch the face of God on Dec. 21 at the Veteran
Affairs Extended Living Care Facility.
He was born Oct. 23, 1928, in Duncan, Okla., and
raised in Seminole, Okla.
He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1948 until
his first retirement in 1968, having had tours of
duty in both the Korean and Vietnam conflicts.
After his retirement from the Air Force he went to
work for the Wyoming Department of Transportation
for the next 18 years and was instrumental in the
formation of WYDOT's aeronautics division. He
retired a second time in 1987 to become a
"gentleman rancher."
He married Betty Jane Rice on April 15, 1951, in
Seminole.
He was a member of the First United Methodist
Church, Korean Shriners, Masonic Lodge 11, CFD
Heels, Daedalians, Aircraft Owners and Pilots
Association and the National Rifle Association.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Betty J.
Abernathy; a son, William (Miriam) Abernathy; two
daughters, Lee Ann (Frank) Hernandez and Lyn
Dale (Miguel) Mercado; and six grandchildren,
Kristina and Amelia Abernathy, Derek R. and Taylor
R. Hernandez, and Austin and Amber Mercado.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Gladys
and James Abernathy, and two brothers, James
and John Abernathy.
A Celebration of His Life will be 10 a.m. today at
First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Ruth
Ann Loughry and the Rev. Ken Peterson
co-officiating.
Honorary pallbearers will be Harlon Hain, Bill
Klintworth, Dr. Richard Loughry, and all the
residents of the VA Community Living Center.
Cremation and services are under the direction of
Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel of the Chimes.
Memorial contributions may be made in his memory
to CFD Scholarship Fund, Shriners Hospital, or the
Cheyenne VA Extended Living Facility.
This is a paid obituary. Wyoming Tribune-Eagle
(Cheyenne, WY) - Saturday, December 27, 2008
This information was last updated 06/19/2016
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