Bill J. Abbott, 86, of Rossville, passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of October 9, 2023, at Franciscan Heath – Lafayette East. He was born to Cecil and Jessie (Likens) Abbott on May 10, 1937, in Lebanon, IN.
Bill was an honorary alumnus of Colfax High School. He joined the Air Force in 1954 and after serving, was married and attended Indiana Barber School in Indianapolis where he earned his barber license. Bill would always say he got his true education at the School of Hard Knocks.
In early life, Bill enjoyed playing basketball and played at the Boys Club in Frankfort. He also had a passion for the game of golf. Bill enjoyed spending his free time painting and was a gifted artist. He owned and operated Abbott’s Barber Shop for many years in Frankfort before gaining his insurance license and opening a Mutual of Omaha Insurance Agency. While an insurance agent, he met and then married Marilyn Shively on July 2, 1977; she survives.
In 1988, Bill and Marilyn relocated to Florida where he opened another barber shop and earned his auctioneer license. He was always proud of the fact that he auctioneered at a charity event for the Orlando Magic and Disney World. From Florida, he relocated in 2008 to Cookeville, TN and ultimately returned to his Indiana “roots” in 2016. Bill had a God given talent of playing the organ and guitar and would play music by ear. Additionally, he was a third-degree Mason in the Frankfort Lodge. Bill attended church at the Rossville Bible Fellowship Church. Bill loved his friends and family very much and he never met a stranger.
Surviving in addition to his wife and two children who were born from his first marriage, Michael S. (Jennifer) Abbott of Crawfordsville, IN and Laura M. (David Hackett) Cohen of Jamestown, IN are his grandchildren, Samuel Abbott (Jennifer Kozy), Zoe Abbott, Ryan Cohen (Brittany Dodson), Lauren (Cory) Sears, and Adria Cohen; great grandchildren, Eli and Asher Cohen, Caison, Rylee, Parker, and Barrett Sears and Vivian Abbott; brothers, Richard (Carolyn) Abbott of Frankfort, Larry (Shirley) Abbott of Zionsville, and Danny (Peggy) Abbott of Rossville; mother-in-law, Evelyn Shively Sarver; sisters in law, Patty and Vickie Shively of Rossville; brother-in-law, Donald (Kara) Shively; and many, many nieces and nephews.
Bill is also preceded in death by his parents; father-in-law, Alvin Shively; son-in-law, Michael Cohen; sisters, Lucille (Charlie) Allen and Barbara (Eddie) Piscador; brother, Terry (Nesta) Abbott; and his first-born grandson, Nicholas Abbott Cohen.
Visitation will be held on Friday, October 13, 2023, from 10am until the start of the funeral service at 1pm at Day & Genda Funeral Home – Bodine Chapel in Rossville. Pastors Chris Albin and Dan Abbott will officiate. Burial will follow in Middle Fork Cemetery with Donald Shively assisting with the graveside service. Memorials in Bill’s name may be made to the American Cancer Society P.O. Box 6704 Hagerstown, MD 21741 . Online condolences may be directed to www.dayandgenda.com.