Eugene Hardeman "Doc" Abington

1940 - 2022

Eugene Hardeman "Doc" Abington, 82, a banker and a lifelong resident of Beebe, Ark., died July 4, 2022.

Doc was born Jan. 11, 1940, to the parents of Tom and Catherine Abington both of whom preceded him in death. He is survived by wife, Ruth Abington, and daughters, Allison DeAnn (Ronny) House of Ward, Ark., and Dr. Sara (Tom) Philips of Denton, Texas; grandchildren include Alex (Ashley) Bratton, Rachel (Blake) Mashburn and Ben and Laura Philips, his sister, Cora Ann Jones; great-grandchildren, Lane and Lacee Bratton; and stepdaughters, Jessica (Tom) Barlow and Susan (Robert) Primeaux. Doc was also preceded in death by his granddaughter, Catherine Marie Bratton.

After graduation from Beebe High School, Doc attended the University of Arkansas and served in the Arkansas National Guard six years. His career in banking began while still in high school and continued until he retired from Citizens Bank (First Security) in 1993, serving in several positions and finally as President and CEO. He was a graduate of Louisiana State University School of Banking.

He loved his community and was actively involved his entire life in its promotion and growth. Doc was a lifelong member of Beebe First United Methodist Church, serving on the church's finance committee for 15 years and assisting in the church's financial arrangements for many of the new buildings and renovations. He also enjoyed sponsoring and traveling with the adult slow-pitch softball team, helping with the development of the Beebe Sports Complex, serving on the Beebe City Council, the Beebe Planning and Zoning Commission, the Beebe Water Commission and the Beebe Christmas Parade (where he often appeared as Frosty the Snowman, throwing out suckers to the children).

He and Neil Davis coordinated the annual Beebe Rodeo event for several years. Doc served as treasurer of the Beebe Industrial Development Commission. Additionally, he was a member of the Beebe Chamber of Commerce and the Beebe Kiwanis Club, where he served twice as president. Doc was a member of the Arkansas Bankers Association.

Doc's early years as an entrepreneur involved loading his little red wagon with produce from the family vegetable garden and walking down to Main Street to make a little spending money.

Anyone who knew Doc was aware of his love of fishing, which began as a very young boy. He dug his own worms and used crickets as well, nothing artificial. He rode his bike many a mile to Beebe area ponds. And if you went fishing with Doc, you had to be a serious fisherman and commit to at least eight hours on the lake … it was always an all-day event.

A visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Friday at Smith-Westbrook Funeral Home, Beebe. Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Saturday, July 9, 2022, at First United Methodist Church in Beebe, with burial in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens. To sign the online guestbook, go to www.smithfamilycares.com/westbrook. In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to First United Methodist Church, Beebe.