Ray Vernon Abel

On Monday, March 20, 2023, the world lost their beloved, Ray Vernon Abel, Sr. of Fort Worth, Texas. Ray lived 93 courageous, playful, joyful years and went to heaven surrounded by his loved ones in the home he was so proud of. Ray was born on April 24, 1929, in Hamilton, Texas to Ed Abel and Johnnie Elizabeth Crouch Abel. He grew up in Waco, Texas where he was baptized at 15 years old and attended Waco High School. He was later employed at Waco Typewriter Co. in 1949. When drafted into the United States Army into the 45th Thunderbird Infantry Division on November 10, 1950, he left with a cigar box full of tools and repaired manual typewriters in a tent in the Korean War. He was honorably discharged a Corporal on October 22, 1953, with a Battlestar Medal, a Korean War Service Medal, a Japan Occupation Medal, and the United Nations Medal. It took time to readjust to civilian life in Waco, Texas during his time in the Korea Reserves, but he eventually accepted a job with Remington Rand in Dallas from 1953 to 1961. During that time, he met Martha Jane Clare, and they were married on August 21, 1954. He went to repair training and the National Sales Training Institute in New York following his transfer to sales. He later transferred to Fort Worth, where he worked as a salesman for Victor Comptometer Corporation and named one of the top salesman in Fort Worth.

Finally, in 1962, he founded Abel Office Machines so that he could make sure he would always be his own boss. In a newspaper article he was interviewed for in 1988, he ended the interview by saying, “When I’m 90 years old, my son will be running the business, but I can come in for a few hours, prop up my feet, read the newspaper, maybe restock the ribbons, and go home when I like;” and this is the way Ray lived his life into his 90s.

Some of his many accomplishments were being the President of Fort Worth Office Machine Dealers Association from 1970 to 1971, President of the South Side Lions Club from 1979 to 1980, Worshipful Master of the South Hills Lodge #1389 from 1980 to 1981, President of the Shrine Golf Unit in 1990, and Captain of Guard in Scottish Rite 13th Degree. Ray and Martha enjoyed going on golf trips with the Shriner’s Golf Unit and cruises with the Moslah Shrine where they both were always known to be the life of the party. He loved a good joke and never met someone he didn’t make laugh. Ray loved watching sports, camping, and working on jigsaw puzzles with his family, where he would sneakily hide the last piece so he could make sure he was always the one to finish it. He loved being a father to his three children and spending precious time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Ray was known for having people at the edge of their seat hearing his wonderful storytelling of all of his memories from his well-lived life. And if you asked him to sing a song, he would belt one out from grade school or from the war and wouldn’t forget a word. Ray was truly a treasure.

He is survived by his son Ray V. Abel, Jr., daughters Rebecca R. Abel, Carrie E. Martin and husband Bob; his grandchildren Amanda Throckmorton and husband Todd, Melanie Boma and husband Jacob; and great-grandchildren Sonia Throckmorton, McClain Boma, Magnolia Boma, Dean Sandifer, and Luna Sandifer.

He is preceded by his wife, Martha Clare Abel; his parents Ed and Johnnie Abel; sisters, Lorraine Mohlman and Dorothy Pringle; and his brothers Calvin Abel and Edward Abel.

Charitable donations may be made in his memory to Shrine Children’s Hospital in care of Moslah Shrine P.O. Box 1320, Fort Worth, TX 76101. The family would like to send their gratitude to the Three Oaks Hospice team for treating their father with the utmost respect and love.