Jack Frederick Abel, Senoia, GA, November 7, 1927-April 10, 2021
Jack F. Abel, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and long-time educator, passed away on Saturday, April 10, 2021. He was born in Macon, GA, son of Louie Ward "Bee" Abel and Doris Newberry Abel, in 1927. Jack attended Lanier High School in Macon and excelled in academics and ROTC, and he even soloed as a small aircraft pilot at age 16 before he had obtained his auto-driver's license. He later joined the Air Force just as World War II was ending. Once out of the service, Abel attended Mercer University where he met his future wife, Jane Maddox. They married in Dalton, GA in 1950, after which the couple soon moved to Stockbridge, GA where they both became educators. Jack would teach for two years, followed by being a school principal in Henry and Clayton Counties for three decades, enriching the lives of many teachers and students along the way. A prodigious reader and intellectual, he collected literally thousands of books over the years in his personal library. Besides loving books, weight-lifting, and all things related to aircraft, Abel also enjoyed having dozens of different models of cars over the years. He is survived by his wife, Jane Maddox Abel, his sons Fred Abel and Ward Abel, his granddaughters Amy Abel, Jane Spivey and Mary Kate Long, his great-grandson Maddox Ransom, and his great-granddaughter Autumn Spivey. A graveside service will he held at 2 PM, Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at West Hill Cemetery in Dalton, GA with Pastor Nathaniel Long officiating. The family will receive friends from 9-10:30 AM at the funeral home before the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Alzheimer's Association, alz.org
Ford-Stewart Funeral Home, Inc., Jonesboro/Stockbridge 770-210-2700. www.fordstewartfuneralhome.com