Robert Edwin Abbott, 1906-1990

Robert Edwin Abbott, born April 25, 1906, in Baltimore County, Maryland, was the son of William C. and Virginia Myers Abbott. Robert graduated from Reisterstown High School, Reisterstown, Maryland in 1925. Following graduation, he took a position

as clerk-bookkeeper in a grocery and general merchandise store in New Windsor, Maryland. Sometime later he accepted an office position with the Western Maryland Railroad in Baltimore, Maryland. Mr. Abbott remained with the railroad until, at a New Year's Eve Watch Night Service, he received and answered God's call to become a minister of the Gospel.

Following the Watch Night Service experience, he attended Bluefield College, Bluefield, West Virginia, from which he graduated in 1933. Seeking further education, Mr. Abbott was accepted at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, which offered a three-year course, where he studied for two years, 1934-1936.

About this time, Mr. Abbott was married to Miss Louise Tredway, of a family long associated with the Methodist Church, where a great-uncle was well-known as a past president of the Maryland Annual Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church. At this time it seemed well to the young couple that Robert should complete his seminary training at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, from which he graduated in 1937, with the degree of Th.G. (Graduate in Theology).

After due consideration and much prayer, Robert sought entrance into the Maryland Annual Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church. He was duly accepted and appointed as a supply to the Amelia Circuit of three churches in June 1939. This was on the eve of the uniting conference, joining the three branches of Methodism -- M.E. North, M.E. South, and Methodist Protestant. At the first Virginia Annual Conference after union, Robert was received as a probationary member, and continued at the same appointment, now designated as the East Amelia Charge.

Robert was ordained a deacon in 1940, and ordained elder in 1942, and received into full membership of the Virginia Annual Conference. His appointments included East Amelia; Floyd Parrish; Cartersville; Moneta; Andrew Chapel-Dunn Loring; Rockbridge; Wayne Hills, Waynesboro; Grace, Danville; Bishop Memorial, Richmond; Zion, Norfolk; Zion-Grace, Norfolk; Wright Memorial, Portsmouth; Ettrick; Benns; Newsoms; Loudoun Charge, from which he retired in 1971. At Wayne Hills in Waynesboro, Robert met the challenge of securing a building site and erecting the first all-purpose building of a planned complex. At Barnes Church on the Newsoms Charge, he gave leadership in securing a much needed educational building, which was fully paid for when completed.

Robert and Louise Abbott were blessed with three children -- Robert Nelson, Franklin Tredway, and Viola Ann Louise. The Abbotts retired to their home in Chesterfield County. Here Robert indulged in his love of gardening, growing his favorite roses, and raising vegetables. As time went on into the 1980s, his health began to present serious problems. When he could no longer walk, it became necessary to seek more care for him than Mrs. Abbott could give him alone at home. On February 28, 1986, he was admitted to the Hermitage of Richmond, the United Methodist retirement home. Mrs. Abbott became a resident of the Hermitage a few weeks later. Robert was placed in the intensive care section of Via Health Care Center, where he was cared for with love by the staff and Mrs. Abbott until his death January 4, 1990.

-Donald L. Truitt