SO/RC/NWA Chief Pilot Capt. Robert Taylor Abernathy III

 

~ IN MEMORY ~

SO/RC/NWA Chief Pilot Capt. Robert Taylor Abernathy III

November 23, 1932 - December 9, 2022

 

Captain Robert Taylor Abernathy’s obituary information can be found online at

https://www.memorialparkfuneralandcemetery.com/obituaries/Robert-Abernathy-6/#!/TributeWall 

also at

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/dailymemphian/name/robert-abernathy-obituary?id=53427382&fhid=3693

Robert Abernathy Obituary

Robert Taylor Abernathy III passed away on December 9, 2022, in Memphis, Tennessee at age 90. Taylor was born in Memphis on November 23, 1932, to R. T. Abernathy Jr. and Nell Beard Abernathy.

 He graduated from Messick High School and Memphis State University. He married Nancy Riggs Abernathy, his wife of 64 years, on June 6, 1954. After college Taylor enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he served as an aviator until his retirement as a Lieutenant Colonel. During his career as a commercial airline pilot, Taylor flew for Southern Airways, Republic Airlines and retired as Chief Pilot of Northwest Airlines. 

Taylor and Nancy had many interests and loved to travel together. A true craftsman, Taylor enjoyed woodworking, growing roses and bonsai, and cooking gourmet dishes from around the world. Taylor was an avid collector of antiques and American Brilliant Cut Glass and was a longtime member of the American Cut Glass Association. Fishing was Taylor's favorite hobby, and some of his most cherished memories were taking his family on an annual fishing trip to Lake El Salto in Mexico. Taylor loved spending time with his four granddaughters and showing them the world. Taylor enjoyed celebrating diversity and was a lifelong student of history and international cultures and cuisines. 

Taylor is survived by his sons, Robert Taylor Abernathy IV (Amy) of Germantown, Tennessee and Lee Abernathy (Kathryn) of Denver, Colorado; grandchildren, Lauren Abernathy (Darragh), Emily Marino (Thomas), Anna Maneclang (Gil) and Allison Abernathy; and great-grandchildren, John Marino Jr., Lucille Maneclang and Mary Taylor Marino. Taylor was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy, his parents, and his sister, Gene Abernathy Graham. 

The family will receive friends and family at a memorial service on Saturday, November 11, 2023, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Parkside Event Center at Memorial Park Funeral Home, Memphis located at 5668 Poplar Avenue. 

Memorials may be sent to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or to the charity of the donor's choice.

Published by The Daily Memphian on Oct. 25, 2023.

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Nancy Riggs Abernathy

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/commercialappeal/name/nancy-abernathy-obituary?id=9790881

 

Nancy Abernathy Obituary

Nancy Riggs Abernathy

Memphis, TN

Nancy Riggs Abernathy died at home at the age of 85 on April 14, 2019. She was born in Mountain City, TN on February 8, 1934 to Dr. James and Sue Riggs. After graduating from Messick High School in 1952 and attending Memphis State University she married Taylor Abernathy, her high school sweetheart. During the marriage that lasted almost 65 years they raised two sons, Taylor and Lee.

Nancy was a kind, gentle soul and a caring and encouraging wife, mother and grandmother. She was a wonderful home maker and loved her many pets. She enjoyed fishing and collecting a wide range of things. She was active with the Mid-South Peace & Justice Center for many years where she was involved in grassroots efforts to mobilize in support of racial justice and nuclear non-proliferation. The Center has always remained close to her heart.

In addition to her husband and sons, Nancy leaves behind two brothers (Hugh and Ray Clark) and a sister (Sally Derr) along with two daughters-in-law (Amy Abernathy and Kathy Abernathy), four granddaughters and three grandsons-in-law.

She donated her body to the Genesis Foundation in hopes of helping others. A memorial service will be held at a future date. The world was a better place with her in it and she will be truly missed.

The family requests that, in Nancy's honor, memorial donations be sent to the Mid-South Peace & Justice Center at 3573 Southern Ave, Memphis, TN 38111.