Raymond B. Abbott

Raymond B. Abbott, age 92, of Grants Pass, died Sunday, October 21, 2012 at Royale Gardens Health & Rehabilitation Center.

A celebration of life will be at 4:00 p.m., Friday, November 2, 2012 at Jerome Prairie Bible Church. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

Raymond was born July 21, 1920 in Long Beach, California to Raymond & Florence Abbott. During World War II Ray served as a Sergeant and Chaplains Assistant of the 49th Fighter Group in the Pacific Theater of the United States Army. He attended Biola University in Los Angeles and was a member of their all male choir. In 1948 he met and married Ragna Thanem in Escondido, California. They resided in Azusa, California and moved with their two children to Grants Pass in 1964. Ray was the owner and operator of Abbott Pest Control until he sold his business in 1980. For many years Ray was the gardener and landscaper at Royale Gardens Health & Rehabilitation Center in Grants Pass. Also known as “The Bible Man” he was noted for giving away free Bibles where ever he went. He had a great sense of humor and will be missed by many people.

His memberships through the years included Child Evangelism Fellowship, American Sunday School Union, Gideon’s International, Christian Business Men’s Committee, Wycliffe Associates and Audio Bible Society.

He volunteered for the Christian Journal; Pass the Word as a Bible distributor; at church as a deacon, elder, song leader; and with the Gospel Rescue Mission.

His hobbies included gardening, good clean jokes and was the M.C. at many functions.

Survivors include a son, Will Abbott of Grants Pass; a daughter, Caroline Kelly of Grants Pass; a sister, Barbara Den Adel of Simi Valley, California; a brother, Harland Abbott of Bakersfield, California; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Ragna Abbott; his parents, Raymond & Florence Abbott and a sister, Virginia Gorbet.