Laura Abt

Middletown, NY

Laura M. Abt, a resident of Middletown since 1938 when she moved with her husband, Kenneth B. Abt to share one room in her in-laws modest home, died July 30, 2008 at Park Manor in Middletown.

She is survived by three sons: Kenneth J. and Weldon A. Abt of Middletown and Kevin R. Abt of Sharon, VT; six grandchildren: Lisa, David and Colin Abt of Middletown, Peter Abt of Bedford, NY, Cala Abt of Boston, MA, and Kimberly Abt of Sharon, MA; five great-grandchildren: Guillermo and Gabriela Munoz, Isabel, Katie and Sophie Abt; many nephews, nieces, grandnephews and grandnieces.

Born October 13, 1915 in the Welsh immigrant community of Poultney, VT, Laura was the only child of J. Weldon Williams and Elizabeth Evans. Her father, born in Wales, came to America alone at age 16, worked hard, and became a successful businessman. She inherited his indomitable spirit. Laura's mother died when she was nine years old.

At age 14, her father made the decision to take her to Poultney, VT to be brought up with her aunt and uncle, Robert and Elizabeth Jones, and with her four cousins: Mary, Marleta, Robert and Thelma. She was treated as a daughter and always considered her cousins her siblings. Her father, working in Albany, was then able to provide her family with much needed financial assistance during the Depression.

Laura graduated from Poultney High School in 1933 and Green Mountain College in 1935. She met her future husband, Kenneth B. Abt, when he came to Poultney to complete summer survey classes for R.P.I. They married in 1938 and moved to Middletown.

In the early years, she worked alongside her husband by providing clerical work. Although he ran the family business and financial affairs, nothing passed without her approval and she can be credited for averting more than one financial folly.

Always focused primarily on her family, her philosophy was to spend more on family and education and less on investing. In 1955, Laura insisted on the whole family's visiting Wales to see their rapidly aging relatives.

She was predeceased by her husband in 1984 and last relative in Wales, Enys Williams, in 1933. Laura and Ken maintained a summer home on Lake St. Catherine near Poultney, VT from 1952 until 1984, both as a respite from Middletown and as a way to keep in touch with her extended family in Vermont. Laura was a deeply religious woman and devoted attendee of both First Congregational Church and Saint John's Lutheran Church, as well as a dedicated member of Gideons, International.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, August 9, at 11 a.m. at the First Congregational Church, 35 E. Main St., Middletown, NY. There will be no visitation. Burial will be at Poultney Cemetery in Poultney, VT, alongside her husband and parents.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorial contributions to First Congregational Church, 35 E. Main St., Middletown, NY 10940.

Arrangements by Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home, Inc., 130 Highland Ave., Middletown, NY; www.applebee-mcphillips.com or 845-343-6309.