Hildebran, N.C. - Paul W. Abernathy, 81, of Hildebran, passed away June 30, 2007, at the V.A. Medical Center in Asheville after a brief illness.

He was born Aug. 6, 1925, to the late Jones F. and Callie Mae Whitener Abernathy.

Paul was a member of the First Baptist Church of Hildebran for 70 years. He loved his church dearly. He faithfully served as a deacon, Sunday school teacher and chairman of the cemetery and building committees. He worked for 37 years as a building supervisor and draftsman for M.G. Crouch Lumber Co. He retired from Jack Sipe Construction Co., where he received the N.C. Master Craftsman Award for excellence in construction.

Paul enlisted in the Air Force in l942, and later served with the 8th Air Force Division in England. He served three years and was shot down over the English Channel in 1943. He was a German prisoner of war for 21 months. He also was an active member of the Ex-POW Catawba Valley Chapter and was a member of the 34th DAV Chapter of Hickory. He was a member of American Legion Post 48.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Eva Lindsay Abernathy; a son and daughter-in-law, Ronald Stuart Abernathy and wife, Tommie, of Hildebran; two daughters and a son-in-law, Paula Rhoney of Hildebran and Teresa Bumgarner and husband, Lanny, of Mountain View; a sister and brother-in-law, Dottie and Troy Howard of Fayetteville; granddaughters, Stacie Buff and husband, George, of Newton, and Heidi Hyde and husband, Gerald, of Valdese; grandsons, Rodney Abernathy and wife, Doreen, of Hickory, and Shawn Abernathy and wife, Valerie, of Greensboro; seven great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Glenn, Charlie, Earl, Everett and Willis Abernathy, and a sister, Betty Pitts.

The funeral service will be held at 4 p.m. today, Tuesday, July 3, 2007, at First Baptist Church in Hildebran, with the Rev. Ronald Arndt officiating. The body will be placed in the sanctuary prior to the service.

Interment will follow in the church cemetery, with military graveside rites conducted by members of American Legion Post 48. The family will receive friends from 2 to 3:45 p.m. today, Tuesday, at First Baptist Church in the Christian Life Center.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, Hildebran, P. O. Box 220, Hildebran, N.C. 28637. Hickory Funeral Home, 1031 Eleventh Ave. Blvd., SE, is in charge of arrangements.