ABINGDON, Va. Phyllis Irene Abel, 81, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011 at her home. She was born, Dec. 22, 1929, in Washington County, Va., to the late Joseph Lester and Julia Ida Lewis Abel. She retired from Intermountain, which became Sprint Telephone Company and was a member of Green Spring Presbyterian Church, where she was the first female elder of the church. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by three brothers, Joseph L. Abel Jr., Wallace Abel, and Wayne Abel; four sisters, Martha Ketron, Virginia Hunter, Louise Schwartz and Lillian Jones. Survivors include two brothers, Jack Abel and wife, Nancy of Abingdon and Bill Abel and wife, Gay of Bristol, Va.; three sisters, Grace Odum of Bristol, Va., Katherine Saul and husband, Charles "Pat" of Bristol, Tenn., and Sue Gibson and husband, John of Bristol, Tenn.; sisters-in-law, Virginia Abel, Bonnie Abel and Ann Abel; and 34 nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011, at Green Spring Presbyterian Church with the Rev. John Martin and the Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar officiating. Interment will follow in Green Spring Presbyterian Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Todd Abel, Adam Abel, David Gibson, Damon Boyd, Jerry Jones, Charlie James, Jimmy Ketron and Kevin Abel. The family will receive friends at Farris Funeral Service from 5 until 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Green Spring Presbyterian Church, 22007 Green Spring Church Road, Abingdon, VA 24211; or a charity of your choice. Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com and signing the online guestbook. Mrs. Abel and her family are under the care of Farris Funeral Service, 427 East Main Street, Abingdon, VA 24210, (276) 623-2700.