Rufus J. Abbott

Rufus J. Abbott

FLORENCE -- A Memorial Service for Rufus J. Abbott will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2003, in the Cain Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. Jerry Pickens, the Rev. Carroll Bazen and the Rev. Larry McAlister will officiate. The family will receive friends at the funeral home following the memorial service and at other times at the residence. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials to St. Paul's United Methodist Church Bus Fund, 1629 W. Palmetto St., Florence, SC 29505.

Mr. Abbott, 68, of Florence, died Sunday, Oct. 12, 2003, at his residence. He was born Aug. 12, 1935, in Midway, Ala., but raised in Horry County, son of the late James Rufus and Grace Louise Clary Abbott. He was predeceased by seven brothers and sisters, Ivanelle Sarvis Davis, Ada Sarvis Lee, James Rufus Abbott, Carol James Abbott, Ruth Abbott Chalk, Vera Abbott Brown, and Grace Abbott.

Mr. Abbott was employed by the Marine Corps, S.C. Highway Patrol, S.C. Tax Commission, S.C. ABC Board, Georgetown Steel and retired in 1996 from the S.C. Department of Labor as a Supervisor with OSHA. Following his retirement he drove a bus for Don's Tours. He was a member of Hampton Lodge #204 AF & AM and a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason. He was a founding member of the Omar Jazz Morticians. He was a member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church and of the S.C. School for the Deaf and Blind School Improvement Council.

Surviving are his wife, Dorothy (Dot) Stone Abbott; sons, Rufus (Rudy) James Abbott (Julie) of Prattville, Ala., and Glenn Keith Abbott (Cindi) of Charlotte; daughter, Dean (Deana) Abbott Miller (Conway) of Florence; six grandchildren, Richard, Donald and Jason Abbott and Way, Conrad and Kirby Miller; brother, Ronnie Abbott (Peggy) of Florence and sisters, Betty Mishoe of Conway, Margaret Brigman (Buddy) of Florence, Marie Brandon (Leon) of Hampton, Va.

Cain Funeral home is assisting the family.