BOLLING ANDERSON ABERCROMBIE, 79, of Houston, Texas, died peacefully on Tuesday, the 28th of March 2006. A native Houstonian, Bo was born on the 26th of October 1926 to Bolling Abercrombie and Maude Gilcreas Abercrombie. He attended The Rice Institute (Houston), where he graduated with the degree of Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1948. While at Rice, Bo joined the U.S. Navy V-12 Officer Training Program and was commissioned as an ensign in March 1946. He served at the Newport, Rhode Island Naval Training Station and on the U.S.S. Denver for four months before he was released from active duty. After graduating from Rice, Bo went to work for Texas Pipeline Company. He also worked for U.S. Industries, McMurray Oil Tool and Hughes Tool Company. Bo was an expert in the gas lift valve industry where he held multiple patents. Bo had a knack for making people laugh and was known for his vast repertoire of unusual jokes. At The Forum, where he and wife Betty were residents, Bo was considered the "Resident Raconteur." In his later years he became a computer "whiz" and a prolific emailer. He was a collector or words, always discovering and adding new words to his vocabulary and peppering conversation with his new discoveries. He was a loving husband and father, and we will miss him greatly. Bo was preceded in death by his parents Bolling and Maude Abercrombie. He is survived by his wife, Betty Abercrombie; twin brother, John Abercrombie and wife Virginia; son Andy Abercrombie and wife Pama; son Tony Abercrombie and wife Karen; daughter Ann Weir and Kenneth French; grandchildren Rachel Weir, Pama Abercrombie, Jack Weir, Burke Abercrombie, Drew Abercrombie, Beau French and Blake French; and cousin Jack Stalsby and wife Greta. A memorial service will be conducted at eleven o'clock in the morning on Friday, the 31st of March 2006, in The Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive, in Houston. In lieu of flowers, for those so desiring, the family asks that donations be made in Bo's honor to The Gladney Fund, 6300 John Ryan Drive, Fort Worth, Texas 76132. The family wishes to thank the staff of The Forum for their love and support of both Bo and Betty.

Published in Houston Chronicle from March 30 to March 31, 2006