Walter Raleigh Abel

Walter Raleigh Abel, age 90, passed away Sunday evening, October 15, 2006. Born in Bradley County on August 17, 1916, to Raleigh and Pearl Price Abel, he was a lifelong resident of Cleveland. Educated at Bradley High School and Tennessee Wesleyan College, he entered the family business, Abel Hardware Company, which had been established by his grandfather in the early 1900?s. Over the years the business expanded to include furniture, sporting goods, and toys, and became Abel?s, Inc. Following its closure in 1974, Walter became the Catnapper sales representative for the state of Tennessee, traveling for the company until his retirement. He served his country in the United States Navy in 1945-1946. Following World War II he served as chair of the local draft board for a period of time. Walter was brought up in the Methodist faith, joining Broad Street Methodist Church on April 12, 1925, when he was not quite nine years of age. As an adult he served Broad Street Church as Sunday School Superintendent for a number of years. He was very proud of his long, uninterrupted membership in this church community, which earned him first place on the current membership roll. A long-time attendee of the Kelly Class, he enjoyed participating in the Over 80 Club in recent years. He always took pride in his hometown, watching it grow from a small town to a bustling center of business and industry. He was a charter member and a former president of the Cleveland Lions Club. Walter was president of the local Chamber of Commerce in the early 1950?s and always enjoyed Cleveland?s progressive business and manufacturing climate, even after his retirement. His father and mother, Raleigh and Pearl Price Abel, and a brother, Glenn W. Abel, preceded him in death. Walter is survived by his wife of 67 years, the former Margaret Bean of the Black Fox community, their marriage beginning June 1, 1939; their children: Sandra Pierce and husband Dan of Carrollton, Texas; Dottie Carrick and husband Charles, Mary Margaret Stamper and husband Joe, Frank Abel and wife Debbie, all of Cleveland; their grandchildren Patti Burns and husband Jerry of Carrollton, Texas; Charles Pierce and wife Carey of Mount Pleasant, Michigan; Michael Smajda and wife Christine of Escanaba, Michigan; Richard Blackman, David Stephenson, Evan Abel and Maegan Abel, all of Cleveland; their great-grandchildren Douglas Burns of Carrollton, Texas; Adam and Hallie Pierce of Mount Pleasant, Michigan; Andrew and Emily Smajda of Escanaba, Michigan. His sister Dorothy Campbell and brother Robert W. Abel, both of Cleveland, also survive him. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Thursday at Broad Street United Methodist Church with Pastor Andy Ferguson and Pastor Debbie Stokes officiating. Honorary pallbearers will be the Over Eighty Club at Broad Street United Methodist Church. Interment will follow in Hilcrest Memorial Gardens with military honors. Evan Abel, Russell Kelley, Joseph Kelley, John Kelley, Danny Lawson, Jimmy McCulley, David Sink and David Spence will serve as pallbearers. His family will receive friends Wednesday from 5-7 p.m. at Ralph Buckner Funeral Home and also 1-2 p.m. Thursday at Broad Street United Methodist Church. Memorials may be made to the Boy Scout Troop #10, c/o Broad Street United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 3, Cleveland, Tennessee 37364.