Robert Cody (Forth) Abbott Sr. (1917 - 2015)

Born 19 Jan 1917 in Spokane, Washington, United States

Biography

Obituary

"The world was a better place with Dad in it, and it will continue to be a better place because he was in it."

Robert Cody Abbott Sr. passed away Wednesday, March 25, 2015. He was born Jan. 19, 1917, in Spokane, to William Edward Ralph Forth and Roselba Evangeline LaLondeque. He was raised by James Wallace Abbott and Anna Bourlier Abbott of Asotin after they took him from The Northwest Children's Home at age 11. He graduated from Asotin High School in 1936 and married Eula E. Moore on Sept. 6, 1938, in Post Falls, Idaho. She preceded him in death after 73 years of marriage. He was also preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Ted, Rose, Lloyd and Betty.

He is survived by his children, Robert Cody Abbott Jr. (Candy), Linda E. Olmstead (Gerald), Brian Ware Abbott (Margi) and Martha L. Ahrens (Ed); 16 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and 13 great-great-grandchildren; and his special caregiver, his granddaughter, Kristen Ahrens.

Cody served in the Merchant Marines during World War II aboard The Ulysses and S.S. Clark Victory ships as a radio operator in Greece, Italy and North Africa. He recalled receiving the notification that the war was over and delivering it to the officer in charge. In 1983, he and family returned to Greece to renew acquaintances he made during the war.

He and Eula raised their family in Lewiston, where he served as foreman of the electrical shop at Potlatch Forests Inc. until retirement at age 62, when he took up golf. He played until age 92, earning two holes in one. His hobbies included camping, hiking and fishing with his children and grandchildren, and teaching respect for the environment: "Always leave the campsite cleaner than you found it!" He and Eula celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with a cruise with family to Alaska. He was a member of the Elks Lodge in Lewiston and a 32nd-degree Mason. He and Eula were members of the Twin City Twirlers and Devils Square Dance Clubs. He will be remembered as a gentle soul and a man of few words, but when he spoke, you listened. As family recalled, he was The Last Man Standing.

Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Mountain View Funeral Home, conducted by son-in-law Ed Ahrens, with refreshments to follow at Mountain View.

Condolences may be expressed at www.mtviewfuneralhome.com. Memorial gifts may be made to the Northwest Children's Home, 419 22nd Ave., Lewiston, ID 83501; or a charity of one's choosing. ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ http://lmtribune.com/obituaries/robert-cody-abbott-sr/article_95e34a1f-fcbd-561f-88a4-8e7bcb5beb46.html

• "United States Census, 1920," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHNS-H67 : accessed 27 March 2015), W E Cody Forth in household of W E Forth, Sedalia, Lincoln, Washington, United States; citing sheet 4B, family 17, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,821,933.

• "United States Census, 1940," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K998-VWX : accessed 27 March 2015), Cody Abbott, West Asotin Election Precinct, Asotin, Washington, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 2-14, sheet 1B, family 19, NARA digital publication T627 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012), roll 4331.