Medford D. Abernathy

Milan, Illinois
Medford D. Abernathy, 84, of Sarasota, Florida, formerly of Milan, Illinois, died Sunday, November 13, 2005, in Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, Bradenton, Florida.
Funeral services are 1 p.m. Monday, November 21, 2005, in the Celebration of Life Chapel at Trimble Funeral and Cremation Center, Moline. Burial is in National Cemetery on the Rock Island Arsenal, where Moline American Legion Post #246 will present Military Honors. Visitation will precede the funeral services from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or Northminster Presbyterian Church, Sarasota.
Memorial services are also being held on Wednesday November 16, 2005, at 3:30 p.m. in the Northminster Presbyterian Church, 3131 61st Street, Sarasota, FL 34243.
Medford David Abernathy was born August 14, 1921, in Esther, Missouri, the son of Duke E. and Marie (Sanders) Abernathy. He attended the University of Missouri at Columbia and received his BS in Education from Southwest Missouri State University. He was a Staff Sergeant in the U. S. Army Air Corps in the Pacific Theater during WW II, and received eight combat battle stars and two air medals.
Medford married Ruth Virginia Howard on February 8, 1947, in Kansas City, Kansas. She died August 7, 1995. He married Florence K. Morisako on August 5, 1999, in Moline, Illinois. He was employed by the Rock Island Arsenal, Rock Island, Illinois, for 30 years, retiring in 1980 as a Supervisory Training Specialist. He previously was a school teacher and high school administrator in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri.
Medford is survived by his wife, Florence; children and spouses, David and Anna Abernathy of Chesterfield, Missouri, Laura and Scott Waibel of Lisle, Illinois, Cindy and Tom Von Gillern of Moline, Illinois, Ann and David Koch of Fairfax Station, Virginia, and John and Debbie Morisako of Lakeland, Florida; 12 grandchildren, Ryan, Sean, Kathryn, and Lindsey Abernathy, Emily, Tom, and Sara Von Gillern, Daniel, Steven, and Elizabeth Koch, Megan Odum, and Kira Morisako; brothers and sisters-in-law, Ewing and Gladys Abernathy of Altenburg, Missouri, and William and Geraldine Abernathy of Sarasota; and sisters and a brother-in-law, Francis and Cliff Cromer of Belton, Missouri, Norma Sadler of Columbia, Missouri, and Margaret Eubanks of Jefferson City, Missouri. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Ruth, and sisters, Violet Abernathy and Virginia Hoehne.
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