Lentice Abernathy

Lentice M. "Abe" Abernathy, 81, of Whitewater passed away Friday, Sept. 24, 2010, at his home.

He was born Feb. 28, 1929, in Vanduser, Mo., son of Harry J. and Gladys M. Campbell Abernathy. He and Betty Jane Niswonger were married April 27, 1951.

Lentice was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson, and a former member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Chaffee. He was a salesman many years with Mirly Truck Sales, retiring to the family farm in 1983.

He served in the U.S. Navy from 1948 to 1952.

Loving survivors include his wife; three sons, Terry (Amy) Abernathy of Edmond, Okla., Randy (Kelly) Abernathy of Lincoln, Neb., Roger (Julie) Abernathy of Farrar, Mo.; a daughter, Karla (Mark) Buchanan of McLeansboro, Ill.; a brother, Hersel "Gene" Abernathy of Gentry, Ark.; two sisters, Olline (Loomis) Brown and Loudean (Jim) Case of Jackson; 11 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and a granddaughter.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson, and from noon to service time Thursday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at the church, with the Rev. Robert Henrichs officiating. Interment will be in Cape County Memorial Park in Cape Girardeau.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made in the form of contributions to St. Paul Lutheran Church of Jackson, Lutheran Home Hospice or Saxony Lutheran High School.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.