Charles William Abbey

Mr. Charles William Abbey, 84, of Clemmons, the husband of Nancy Hughes Abbey, died Sunday, May 1, in Clemmons of complications from Alzheimers. Mr. Abbey was born in Rochester, NY in 1937, the son of the late Charles Robert and Marjorie Louise Abbey. Mr. Abbey graduated from the Pennsylvania State University, School of Forestry in 1959 and later from Northern Michigan University School of Business with a Masters in Administrative Service. Abbey retired from the United States Army as a Lieutenant Colonel after twenty years’ service. He was a Master Army Aviator and a career-long Cavalryman serving with the 9th, 11th, 14th, and 17th Cavalry. He served with the Eleventh Armored Cavalry for two tours in Vietnam. Among his US Military awards are the Solder’s Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with ‘20’device, Bronze Star, and the Republic of Vietnam Honor Medal. Abbey also retired from the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, serving for eighteen years at R.J. Reynolds High School as the first Senior Army Instructor for the school’s Junior ROTC program.

He was a volunteer of many years at Forsyth Medical Center, Lewisville Meals on Wheels, and at Tanglewood Park (as the “Bluebird Man”). He was a charter member of the North Carolina Bluebird Society, member of the Penn State “S” club as well as the American Chestnut Foundation. He also served as Chairman of the Clemmons Village Appearance Commission and later as a member of the Winston-Salem Appearance Commission.

Surviving are his wife Nancy, daughter Donna Dunn of Advance and her partner Terry Mitchell of Mocksville and son Marc and wife Kristen of Edgewater, MD as well as four grandchildren, Jacob, Isaac, Owen and Thomas.

His ashes will be interned at Salisbury National Cemetery with military honors at 10:00, Friday, May 13th. A memorial service will be held at Vogler & Sons Funeral Home in Clemmons, NC on Friday, May 13 at 2:00.