Wayne Abbott

Born August 5, 1941, in East Sumner, Maine to the late Stevens and Vera Abbott, Wayne was the youngest and last remaining of ten siblings. He was preceded in death by his wife of 46 years, Patsy Mills Abbott, who was the love of his life.

He is survived by his children, Donald Abbott (Connie) of Lillington, Elaine A. Crumpler of Apex, and Helen A. Bishop (William) of Apex, and by grandchildren Morgan Kuell, John Crumpler, Ryan Bishop and Eric Bishop.

Wayne was raised on a large farm, where they grew vegetables, harvested syrup, tended an orchard and grew and baled hay for their milk cows. He joined the Marines after high school and was stationed in Cherry Point and deployed to Japan, working on jet engines and serving with the Military Police. He was employed with IBM for more than 20 years, where he was involved in developing some of the earliest modems, bar code readers, color printers, and braille interpreters. After retirement, he returned to his family’s vocation of farming. He was an advocate of recycling and reusing, and was constantly tinkering to give new life and purpose to old things.

A celebration of his life and visitation will be held at Olive Chapel Baptist Church in Apex, NC, on Sunday, November 13, 2022, from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM with a service following at 3:00 PM.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be made to the Mabopane Foundation of Apex, NC.

Fond memories and expressions of condolences for the Abbott family can be shared online at apexfuneral.net.