William Charles (Bill) Abbitt

Born July 7, 1927 in Madison Heights, he was the son of the late Charles William Abbitt, Jr. and Blanche Callahan Abbitt. He was the President and owner of C.W. Abbitt, Jr. & Sons, Inc. He was a GMC truck dealer and a Mack Truck Service Dealer for many years. Mr. Abbitt also drove an Amherst County school bus for many years and will be remembered by many "once young" students in the county. He served on the Lynchburg Board of Directors for Central Fidelity Bank and was a member of Sandy Bottom Christian Church.

Mr. Abbitt enjoyed extended involvement with the community; he was a member of Moose Lodge #715, the T. Wiley Davis Lodge #1 and was a member of the Virginia Early Dirt Track Assoc. He also supported and enjoyed many years as a sponsor of the Madison Heights Youth Baseball Assoc.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three sisters, Nancy O. Abbitt, Peggy L. Abbitt, and Virginia A. Burley.

Mr. Abbitt is survived by his wife of sixty years, Peggy Burleigh Abbitt; daughters, Nancy C. Abbitt and husband, M. Blair (Robbie) Robertson, Jr. and Patricia O. Abbitt and husband, Wayne C. Doyle, all of Madison Heights; a brother, M. F. (Pete) Abbitt; sisters, Marie A. Wilkerson, Phyllis A. Arthur, all of Rustburg, Helen A. Ferneyhough of Monroe, and Lilly A. Shirley of Marietta, GA.

He was "Pa" to granddaughters, Melanie V. Bryant and Morgan B. Robertson and great-grandchildren. Justin C. Martin and Hannah V. Martin.

A funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, March 8, 2009 at Whitten Monelison Chapel by the Rev. George Harris and the Rev. D. Jack Hamilton and the Rev. Edward Austin. Interment will follow in Meade Cemetery, Madison Heights.

The family will receive fiends from 5-8 p.m., Saturday, March 7, 2009 at the funeral home and other times at the residence.

Those wishing to make memorial contributions are asked to consider the Patrick Henry Boys or Girls Plantation or Madison Heights Christian Church.

Mr. Abbitt will be remembered as a man of pride and commitment to his family, employees, and loyal customers over the years.

The family would like to thank the many friends and relatives for their visits, cards, and kind expressions during Bill's illness.

They would also like to give a sincere thank you to Dr. Dwight Oldham and the "girls" with Lynchburg Hematology and Oncology, and Becky Cox and Hospice of the Hills.

To send an online condolence to the family, please visit www.whittenfuneralhome.com.

Whitten Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, Monelison Chapel is serving the family.