Denmark - David Lionel Abstance, Sr., 89, died Wednesday, February 12, 2014. He was the son of the late Lionel G. Abstance and Rosa Hightower Abstance. He was a lifelong resident of Denmark, SC, and recently resided at The Oaks in Orangeburg, SC. Mr. Abstance was an Army veteran of WWII and retired from SCE&G as a journeyman electrician with 36 years of service. He loved fishing, hunting, and gardening; often sharing the bounties of his labor with family and neighbors. Mr. Abstance was an active member of Ghents Branch Baptist Church for over 75 years. Mr. Abstance was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather. He was predeceased by his wife, Nina B. Abstance, and daughter, Ann D. Grubbs. He is survived by daughter, Adelia A. Owens of Lugoff, SC; sons, David L. Abstance, Jr. (Sandra) of Chapin, SC, and L. Wyman Abstance (Jan) of Denmark, SC; and son-in-law, James D. Grubbs of Columbia, SC. He is also survived by 8 grandchildren, James B. Owens, Jr., Teresa G. Miller (Chris), Niki A. Cook (Ricky), Julie O. Jeffers (Mark), Daniel Grubbs (Janet), David L. Abstance, III (Mitzi), Joseph Abstance (Kathryn), Laurie A. Wilston (Mark); 16 great-grandchildren, Alex O. Barnes (Darrell), S. Nash Jeffers, J. Tucker Jeffers, David L. Abstance, IV, Noah Abstance, Bryton Abstance, Sydney Abstance, Luke Abstance, Haley Abstance, Austin Cook, Coby Cook, Kelsey Cook, Logan Winston, Jonathan Miller, Zack Grubbs, Jacob Grubbs; and 1 great-great granddaughter, Maddison Barnes. Mr. Abstance is also survived by sisters, Audrey A. Phillips (J.T.) of Denmark, SC, and Goldie A. O'Cain (Gilbert) of Roseville, SC. Services will be held Sunday at 4:00 p.m. at Ghents Branch Baptist Church, Denmark, SC, with burial following in the Church Cemetery. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 2:30 to 4:00 pm in the Church sanctuary. The family will greet friends both during visitation and following the burial. The family would like to thank Dr. Willie Stuck of Columbia Heart for his many years of care, the care given at Providence Hospital, Columbia, SC, and the caregivers at The Oaks in Orangeburg, SC. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Ghents Branch Baptist Church, 1974 Ghents Branch Road, Denmark, SC 29042. Mercer Funeral Home in Denmark, SC, is in charge of the arrangements. 803-793 4211. © The State, Columbia, SC, 15 Feb 2014