Glenn Abel

Glenn Abel, age 89, of Meadow Brook Drive, died Monday, September 21, 2009 at Canton Christian Convalescent Center. A native of Haywood County, he was a son of the late Thomas Cleveland and Lizzie Smathers Abel and the grandson of the late Jasper Smathers. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Clem and Kenneth Abel; two sisters, Annie Mae Abel Shurson and Edna Abel Cook; and one son, Harold David Abel. Mr. Abel served during World War II in the European Theater with the 82nd Airborne. Cpl. Abel was with the first airborne army occupying Berlin and was among those commended by President Harry S. Truman during his stay at the Big Three conference in Potsdam. Cpl. Abel, who was a member of the First Airborne army, was one of the thirty-three hundred officers and men who operated and administered the American section of the Big Three conference area. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Mary Lou Henson Abel; a son, Douglas Abel and his wife, Judy, of Canton; one daughter, Brenda Jane Abel of Canton; five grandchildren, Dale Shipman of Arlington, WA, Kristie White of Mills River, Michael Abel of Canton, Pam Munson of Williamsburg, VA, and April Shepard of Brandon, Fl; ten great-grandchildren; and three great-great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 23, 2009 in the Canton Chapel of Wells Funeral Home with Reverend Bruce Cayton and Roger Henson officiating. Burial will follow at Crawford/Ray Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 9:30 until 10:45 a.m. prior to the service. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Disease Association, Western Carolina Chapter, Ste D320, Asheville, NC 28801-2644.

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