J.R. "Bob" Abernathy of Destin, Fla., passed away Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2011, from complications of Parkinson's. He was 87 years old.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Esther Abernathy; his wife, Mary Belcher Abernathy; his son, J.R. (Jim) Abernathy III: and his son-in-law, Kenneth Wesson.
Bob was born on May 27, 1923, in Birmingham, Ala. In 1944 he graduated from Birmingham Southern College with a degree in chemistry. Bob served in the Army during World War II as a member of the 94th Infantry Division, 376th Regiment. He participated toward the end of the Battle of the Bulge, and served as a guard in Germany and Czechoslovakia for a year after the war. Upon returning, he earned a master's degree in chemistry from the University of Alabama.
He was the general manager for W.A. Belcher Lumber Co. in Birmingham for 30 years. He was a devoted family man in his early years. Upon retirement in 1979 he moved to Destin, where he and his wife enjoyed a real passion for living, including golf and extensive travel. He served on the board of the Destin Water Users for several years, and he also loved the Destin Rotary Club. When asked what he did in Destin, Bob often said he went to Rotary on Tuesday and played golf on Thursday.
He was a good-humored, southern gentleman, and was always there for his family and friends in times of need. No matter how bad the trouble, he gave without judgment. He had a dedicated Christian conviction and was a faithful Baptist.
Mr. Abernathy is survived by his daughter, Lynn Wesson; and his daughter-in-law, Nancy Abernathy. He has seven grandchildren: Scott Shewmake (Robin) of Richmond, Va., Randy Shewmake of Birmingham, Ala., Clinton Wesson of Clarksville, Tenn., Ashlyn Bagwell (Tim) Birmingham, Allyson Estes (David) of Bangor, Maine, Stacy Stephens (Bron) of Birmingham, and J.R. (Jimmy) Abernathy IV of Birmingham. He has eight great-grandchildren: Jackson Shewmake, Mary Grayson Shewmake, Ethan Shewmake, Nicholas Bagwell, Noah Bagwell, Brodie Stephens, Marissa Stephens and Lauren Stephens.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Esther Abernathy; his wife, Mary Belcher Abernathy; his son, J.R. (Jim) Abernathy III: and his son-in-law, Kenneth Wesson.
Bob was born on May 27, 1923, in Birmingham, Ala. In 1944 he graduated from Birmingham Southern College with a degree in chemistry. Bob served in the Army during World War II as a member of the 94th Infantry Division, 376th Regiment. He participated toward the end of the Battle of the Bulge, and served as a guard in Germany and Czechoslovakia for a year after the war. Upon returning, he earned a master's degree in chemistry from the University of Alabama.
He was the general manager for W.A. Belcher Lumber Co. in Birmingham for 30 years. He was a devoted family man in his early years. Upon retirement in 1979 he moved to Destin, where he and his wife enjoyed a real passion for living, including golf and extensive travel. He served on the board of the Destin Water Users for several years, and he also loved the Destin Rotary Club. When asked what he did in Destin, Bob often said he went to Rotary on Tuesday and played golf on Thursday.
He was a good-humored, southern gentleman, and was always there for his family and friends in times of need. No matter how bad the trouble, he gave without judgment. He had a dedicated Christian conviction and was a faithful Baptist.
Mr. Abernathy is survived by his daughter, Lynn Wesson; and his daughter-in-law, Nancy Abernathy. He has seven grandchildren: Scott Shewmake (Robin) of Richmond, Va., Randy Shewmake of Birmingham, Ala., Clinton Wesson of Clarksville, Tenn., Ashlyn Bagwell (Tim) Birmingham, Allyson Estes (David) of Bangor, Maine, Stacy Stephens (Bron) of Birmingham, and J.R. (Jimmy) Abernathy IV of Birmingham. He has eight great-grandchildren: Jackson Shewmake, Mary Grayson Shewmake, Ethan Shewmake, Nicholas Bagwell, Noah Bagwell, Brodie Stephens, Marissa Stephens and Lauren Stephens.
J.R. "Bob" Abernathy of Destin, Fla., passed away Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2011, from complications of Parkinson's. He was 87 years old.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Esther Abernathy; his wife, Mary Belcher Abernathy; his son, J.R. (Jim) Abernathy III: and his son-in-law, Kenneth Wesson.
Bob was born on May 27, 1923, in Birmingham, Ala. In 1944 he graduated from Birmingham Southern College with a degree in chemistry. Bob served in the Army during World War II as a member of the 94th Infantry Division, 376th Regiment. He participated toward the end of the Battle of the Bulge, and served as a guard in Germany and Czechoslovakia for a year after the war. Upon returning, he earned a master's degree in chemistry from the University of Alabama.
He was the general manager for W.A. Belcher Lumber Co. in Birmingham for 30 years. He was a devoted family man in his early years. Upon retirement in 1979 he moved to Destin, where he and his wife enjoyed a real passion for living, including golf and extensive travel. He served on the board of the Destin Water Users for several years, and he also loved the Destin Rotary Club. When asked what he did in Destin, Bob often said he went to Rotary on Tuesday and played golf on Thursday.
He was a good-humored, southern gentleman, and was always there for his family and friends in times of need. No matter how bad the trouble, he gave without judgment. He had a dedicated Christian conviction and was a faithful Baptist.
Mr. Abernathy is survived by his daughter, Lynn Wesson; and his daughter-in-law, Nancy Abernathy. He has seven grandchildren: Scott Shewmake (Robin) of Richmond, Va., Randy Shewmake of Birmingham, Ala., Clinton Wesson of Clarksville, Tenn., Ashlyn Bagwell (Tim) Birmingham, Allyson Estes (David) of Bangor, Maine, Stacy Stephens (Bron) of Birmingham, and J.R. (Jimmy) Abernathy IV of Birmingham. He has eight great-grandchildren: Jackson Shewmake, Mary Grayson Shewmake, Ethan Shewmake, Nicholas Bagwell, Noah Bagwell, Brodie Stephens, Marissa Stephens and Lauren Stephens.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Esther Abernathy; his wife, Mary Belcher Abernathy; his son, J.R. (Jim) Abernathy III: and his son-in-law, Kenneth Wesson.
Bob was born on May 27, 1923, in Birmingham, Ala. In 1944 he graduated from Birmingham Southern College with a degree in chemistry. Bob served in the Army during World War II as a member of the 94th Infantry Division, 376th Regiment. He participated toward the end of the Battle of the Bulge, and served as a guard in Germany and Czechoslovakia for a year after the war. Upon returning, he earned a master's degree in chemistry from the University of Alabama.
He was the general manager for W.A. Belcher Lumber Co. in Birmingham for 30 years. He was a devoted family man in his early years. Upon retirement in 1979 he moved to Destin, where he and his wife enjoyed a real passion for living, including golf and extensive travel. He served on the board of the Destin Water Users for several years, and he also loved the Destin Rotary Club. When asked what he did in Destin, Bob often said he went to Rotary on Tuesday and played golf on Thursday.
He was a good-humored, southern gentleman, and was always there for his family and friends in times of need. No matter how bad the trouble, he gave without judgment. He had a dedicated Christian conviction and was a faithful Baptist.
Mr. Abernathy is survived by his daughter, Lynn Wesson; and his daughter-in-law, Nancy Abernathy. He has seven grandchildren: Scott Shewmake (Robin) of Richmond, Va., Randy Shewmake of Birmingham, Ala., Clinton Wesson of Clarksville, Tenn., Ashlyn Bagwell (Tim) Birmingham, Allyson Estes (David) of Bangor, Maine, Stacy Stephens (Bron) of Birmingham, and J.R. (Jimmy) Abernathy IV of Birmingham. He has eight great-grandchildren: Jackson Shewmake, Mary Grayson Shewmake, Ethan Shewmake, Nicholas Bagwell, Noah Bagwell, Brodie Stephens, Marissa Stephens and Lauren Stephens.
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