Bill was a lifelong resident of Ottawa.

Bill attended Tawney Grade School and Ottawa High School. He received his G.E.D. in 1945 while in the Army.

He worked at Weidner`s Service Station; Ottawa Co-op; Ford`s Parts; Coleman & Morgan Construction in the early 1960`s; maintenance at Ottawa University sixteen years, in the mid 1960`s to late 1970`s; Duke Manufacturing in the late 1970`s to 1989; Mr. C`s Hardware as a sales clerk in the early 1990`s; and maintenance at Park Place Apartments from 1999 to 2004, all in Ottawa. He also remodeled houses with his son, Garry, and grandson, Josh, in 2004 and 2005.

Bill served as Private lst Class and Signalman in the United States Army.

He was an active member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, of Ottawa, serving as an Elder. In earlier years, Bill sang in the Church choir and taught a Sunday School class. He was a square dance caller forty-two years, and member of the N.E.K. Caller`s and Kansas State Caller`s Association. He and his wife started four area square dance clubs, Kuntry Kuzzins, Guys & Gals, Frontier Twirlers and Sunflower Steppers. He taught square dancing at Ottawa University four years, and also taught for the Rambling Ranchers 4-H Club, and Ottawa Promenaders. He was also active in Boy Scouts.

On October 19, 1947, Bill was united in marriage with Geraldine L. Graffham at the Church of the Brethren, in Ottawa. They celebrated fifty-seven years of marriage. She survives of their home.

SERVICES: Funeral services will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Ottawa, 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 7, 2005.

IN STATE: Friends may pay their respects to Mr. Abbott at the Dengel & Son Mortuary after 9:00 a.m. Tuesday to the service hour, where the family will meet with friends 7 to 8:00 Tuesday evening.

CEMETERY: Highland Cemetery, Ottawa, Kansas.

MEMORIALS: The family suggests memorials to Westminster Presbyterian Church, c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.