Abercrombie, Bobby Manly

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abercrombie bobby manlyBobby “Ab” Manly Abercrombie, 76, of Radford, went home to his heavenly Father while surrounded by his loving family on Monday, January 9, 2012 in Myrtle Beach, S.C. after a thirteen year courageous battle with Renal Cell Cancer. Born in Mount Holly, North Carolina the son of the late Toy Manly and Josephine Hager Abercrombie, Bobby was a modest, humble and selfless family man who always put the needs of others first. In the community and work, he was highly respected by all who knew him. Favorite activities with his family included cookouts, boating on Claytor Lake, and just good old “porch sittin’. One would often see him cruising about town in his old red pickup truck with his loyal German Shepherd ‘Hans’. He also always enjoyed spending time with his old buddies of over 50 years going out to lunch, playing cards, shooting pool and enjoying sports activities and tournaments. Bobby was a U. S. Army veteran and a Master Mason with 35 years membership with VA May Lodge #38 A.F.&A.M. He came to the Radford area in July 1960 after teaching high school math for a year in Northern Virginia to work at a new Army Agency just being staffed on the Radford Arsenal property. He was hired as a mathematician along with six other young college graduates who have remained steadfast friends for over 50 years. During the early part of his career he was a computer systems analyst working on complicated computer modeling concerned with the Dept of Defense’s ability to withstand nuclear warfare. He progressed through several management positions to be the Technical Director of the computing agency during the last third of his career with the government. Under his management the agency was recognized as one of the most successful computing organizations in the Department of the Army. Shortly after retiring from the Federal Government in 1988, he formed his own consulting business and worked for 10 years in the government’s program to assist victims of natural disasters. Surviving are his loving wife of 53 years, Dianna Thompson Abercrombie of Radford; four children, Lori Wills and her husband, Rodger, and Joseph Abercrombie and his wife, Christi, all of Radford, Robin Capote of Myrtle Beach, SC, and Jason Abercrombie of Goose Creek, SC; grandchildren, Ian Abercrombie, Anne Abercrombie, and Zachariah Abercrombie; a brother Billy Joe Abercrombie and his wife Peggy of Lexington, SC; and nephews, Wesley and Nathan Abercrombie. A Celebration of Bobby’s life will be held at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at the Central United Methodist Church in Radford with Pastor Mike Carter and Pastor Don Shelor officiating and members of VFW Post #776 conducting Military Rites. A reception will follow in the church fellowship hall after the service. The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in the form of donations to Salvation Army, 760 Roanoke St., NE, Christiansburg, VA 24073, or the American Cancer Society, 2840 Electric Road, Suite 106A, Roanoke, VA 24018 or Pound Pals, P. O. Box 2851, Radford, Va. 24141. The Abercrombie family is in the care of Mullins Funeral Home & Crematory in Radford.