Fred Bradshaw Abbott
Retired dentist served in U.S. Army
Fred Bradshaw Abbott D.D.S., 84, of Salisbury, Md., departed this life and entered his heavenly “home” Monday, June 17, 2013, after a long battle with multiple health problems.
He was born midway of thirteen siblings on July 8, 1928, in Cambridge, Md., a son of the late Clarence J. Abbott and Lola Huffman Abbott.
During his early years, he lived in many locations on the Eastern Shore, in Virginia, Delaware and Pennsylvania, since his father was a church planter for the Church of God, headquartered in Cleveland, Tenn. He was a member of Victory Tabernacle Church of God in Laurel, Del.
After graduating from high school in Chincoteague, Va., he held positions at DuPont in Seaford, Del., and at Glen Martin in Baltimore, Md., as an airplane inspector.
While serving in the U.S. Army, during the Korean War, he was trained to be a dental technician at the Department of Dental Services, Medical Field Service School in Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Immediately following completion of the program, he was made instructor for the program. Through this program, he was inspired to pursue dentistry. Baccalaureate preparation was later earned from South East Missouri University in Cape Girardeau, Mo., and professional preparation from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry in Baltimore in 1962. He earned advanced academic preparation and certification as a prosthodontist from the University of Pittsburgh in 1977.
Dr. Abbott practiced general dentistry in Federalsburg, Md., but then chose to practice academic dentistry. While associated with a number of dental schools, he had responsibility for teaching, administration, research and publication.
He served at the University of Pittsburgh, University of Maryland in Baltimore, Northwestern University in Chicago, Ill., Loyola University in Chicago and Temple University in Philadelphia. Some dentists in the the area had been students of his dental teaching.
In 1987, he opened a specialty practice in Salisbury, which involved full-mouth reconstruction and implant prosthodontics. He retired in 1999.
Organizations of which he was a member are the American Dental Association, American College of Prosthodontics, Academy of Osseo Integration and American College of Dentists.
His personal activities included golf, which was almost a passion. In 1992, he claimed seniors title at Nutters Golf Club. Following retirement, he became involved with crafts, such as model cars, model railroading, metalwork and finally model shipbuilding. He collected stamps from an early age.
Dr. Abbott had several local connections. His wife, Nellie Jewell Kuhtik, is the daughter of the late Rev. and Mrs. Larry C. Jewell, who served many United Methodist charges in Greene County. His wife was a graduate of Waynesburg College. His brother, Lloyd Abbott, served as a pastor of Rolling Meadows Church of God for many years.
Deceased, in addition to his parents, are an infant brother, David; a brother, Emerson; and four sisters, Norma Jean Caldwell, Emily Cook, Elizabeth Bowden Tull and Delma Bowden.
Surviving are his wife, Nellie Jewell Kuhtik Abbott; a son, Patrick James Abbott and wife Tina and their two sons, Samuel Bradshaw and Maxwell Lee, all of Cape Girardeau, Mo.; a sister, Etta Hastings in Laurel; and five brothers, Clarence of Crisfield, Md., Samuel and wife Shirley of Cleveland, Lloyd and wife Doris of Bedford, William and wife Jan of Atlantic, Va., and David of Phoenix, Ariz.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation was held in Wicomico Presbyterian Church, 829 Broad Street, Salisbury, Md., with the Rev. Donald Rising and the Rev. Stacey Johnson officiating. Private interment will be held at a later date in Greenlawn Cemetery, in Cambridge, Md.
In lieu of flowers, friends are encouraged to make memorial donations in his memory to Coastal Hospice, P.O. Box 1733, Salisbury, MD 21802-1733 or a charity of one’s choice.
Arrangements are in the care of Holloway Funeral Home, 501 Snow Hill Road, Salisbury, MD 21804. To send condolences to the family, please visit www.hollowayfh.com.