Camden, South Carolina - Norman K. McAbee, Jr., son of Norman K. McAbee and Elizabeth (Betty) Merkley McAbee and husband of Deborah (Deb) McAbee died on Monday November 20, 2023. Born May 23, 1932 in Fresno, California, he served in the United States Airforce, during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in September 1954.
He was a graduate of San Diego State University (“SDSU”), where he also received a Master of Business Administration. While at SDSU Norm served as the Grand Master of the Beta Psi chapter of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. He was then hired by Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company. Divestiture occurred in 1982 when American Telephone and Telegraph (AT&T) agreed to break up the Bell System. At that point, he transitioned to AT&T and rose to the position of Vice President of its Western Division.
Norm retired in 1990 and moved from California to Camden, South Carolina with wife, Deb and daughter, Kate. They had a full and less hectic life, sharing a 20-acre horse farm with three horses and a pony, which Kate showed successfully in hunters on the “A” Circuit. Norm had fulfilled his dream of becoming a “gentleman farmer” even though it was a full-time job.
This lovely thought was emailed to Deb, “I am so sorry, although I am not surprised, that Norm has departed for the great life beyond. I imagine that he will be in a beautiful pasture surrounded by pocket gardens of all sorts and varieties and lots of work to do. Oh yes, he will be eager to start!”.
The story of Norm McAbee would not be complete without mentioning his love of running distance races. In 1975, he began in earnest. He ran 19 marathons, including the 1976 Boston Marathon, and many other 10K races. But his biggest thrill was carrying the 1984 Olympic Torch, sponsored by AT&T, into and around San Diego County on its way to the Los Angeles Coliseum and the 1984 Olympic Games.
Norm was head of the Camden Tree Foundation when they planted new trees on Knights Hill Road near Springdale Racetrack. He also volunteered at the Community Medical Clinic of Kershaw County. Please consider a donation to either of these charities in his memory.
Survivors include, Norm’s wife, Deb, his children, Marjie Siekerka, of Atlanta, GA, Susie Keeney (Mike), of Coronado, CA and Kate Elder (Derek), of San Clemente, CA, grandchildren, Christopher Dalton (Christina), Michelle Archer (Bryan), Kendra Attl (Kyle), Katelyn Siekerka, Ryan Keeney, Carly Keeney, Leighton Elder and Lottie Elder.
A thank you to the staff at C.M. Tucker Nursing Home, E. Roy Stone Veterans Pavilion of Columbia, South Carolina. Special thanks are sent to Doctors Davis and Xi, and Mercy and Keith. A family celebration of Norm’s life will be held at a future date in San Diego.
These sayings offer insight to the character of our Norm. Kate authored a top 12 list of her father’s values when she went off to college. Here are a few:
1. If it doesn’t kill you, it will make you stronger
2. Always go the extra mile
3. There is no substitute for hard work or yard work
4. You make sacrifices for the ones you love
Your loving wife, Deb, and your devoted daughters, Marjie, Susie and Kate.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.dunbarfuneralhomedevine.com for the McAbee family.
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