Obituary for Bert Abbott
CUTHBERT RAY “BERT” ABBOTT
1930 - 2022
The earthly journey is now over. No more pain and suffering: his redemption is complete.
Cuthbert Ray “Bert” Abbott, known for his business acumen (co-founder of Abbott & Townsend Lumber Ltd. with his childhood friend Robert Townsend , and a man who understood the value of farmland), and his love of baseball, horses, and—above all—family, has left us.
Surrounded by family at the Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital, Bert passed from this life and is now rejoicing in Heaven with Jesus Christ and his beloved Marion, who went before him on January 31, 2018.
Bert was born in the family home near Cultus, Ontario on February 24, 1930; the youngest son of Murray and Mary (Hetherington) Abbott.
Predeceased by his wife Marion (2018); his parents Murray & Mary Abbott; his brother Clarence & wife Faye (Hall) Abbott (2019); and his infant brother Robbie.
For the last 13+ years of her life, Bert cared tenderly, with the help of others, for his wife Marion at home.
Prior to embracing a full-time caregiver role, he was Chair of the Ontario Mutual Insurance Association (OMIA), a director on the board of Farm Mutual Financial Services, and a director and past Chair of the Norfolk Mutual Board of Directors. He loved to golf and was a member of the Tillsonburg Golf and Country Club. He was a man of quiet faith: while living in Glen Meyer, he got up early Sunday mornings in the cold months to start the wood burning furnace before church, taught Sunday school, and always brought his family to church. Bert delivered Meals on Wheels, and selflessly used his resources to assist countless friends and family members when things were tough. He spent his capital in quiet, unrecognized service of community, faith, and, most of all, family. His family was the most important thing to him, and he showed them in countless ways.
Bert is survived by his family: son Murray (Bev), of London, Ontario; grandson Jonathan (Rachelle), and great-grandchildren Colton, Jayda, & Nolan of Glencoe, Ontario; granddaughter Sarah (Ryan) & great-grandchildren Jack & Charlie of St. Thomas; daughter Mary-Ellen of Simcoe; granddaughter Catherine (Tim) of Simcoe & great-grandchildren children Lucy, Beatrice, & Wilbur; granddaughter Hilary of Hamilton; son Robert (Jean) of Tillsonburg; and daughter Ruth-Ann (Steve) of Tillsonburg & granddaughters Ellen & Emily.
Bert also loved music and dancing a great deal, and we had many a good sing-song around the piano.
A favourite hymn of Bert and his father Murray was “When the Roll is Called up Yonder” , which granddaughters Catherine and Sarah were singing to him as he passed.
When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound and time shall be no more,
And the morning breaks eternal bright and fair,
When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore
And the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there
When the roll is called up yonder
When the roll is called up yonder
When the roll is called up yonder
When the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there
You are there, Dad/Grandpa/Great-Grandpa.
Special thanks to Dr. Roth, TDMH staff on 2nd floor south, Stonebridge community services administrative staff and private support workers, and the many private personal support workers who cared for Bert so kindly.
Friends and relatives will be received by the Abbott family at Ostrander’s Funeral Home Limited, 43 Bidwell St., Tillsonburg, (519) 842-5221 on Thursday, July 14, 2022 from 4:00 - 7:00 pm. The Funeral Service for Bert will be held on Friday, July 15, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. A private family interment will be held at the Tillsonburg Cemetery. Memorial donations to Youth for Christ, Tillsonburg, First Baptist Church Building Fund or Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital would be appreciated and can be mailed directly or by contacting Ostrander’s Funeral Home. Personal condolences and memories can be shared at www.ostrandersfuneralhome.com
1930 - 2022
The earthly journey is now over. No more pain and suffering: his redemption is complete.
Cuthbert Ray “Bert” Abbott, known for his business acumen (co-founder of Abbott & Townsend Lumber Ltd. with his childhood friend Robert Townsend , and a man who understood the value of farmland), and his love of baseball, horses, and—above all—family, has left us.
Surrounded by family at the Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital, Bert passed from this life and is now rejoicing in Heaven with Jesus Christ and his beloved Marion, who went before him on January 31, 2018.
Bert was born in the family home near Cultus, Ontario on February 24, 1930; the youngest son of Murray and Mary (Hetherington) Abbott.
Predeceased by his wife Marion (2018); his parents Murray & Mary Abbott; his brother Clarence & wife Faye (Hall) Abbott (2019); and his infant brother Robbie.
For the last 13+ years of her life, Bert cared tenderly, with the help of others, for his wife Marion at home.
Prior to embracing a full-time caregiver role, he was Chair of the Ontario Mutual Insurance Association (OMIA), a director on the board of Farm Mutual Financial Services, and a director and past Chair of the Norfolk Mutual Board of Directors. He loved to golf and was a member of the Tillsonburg Golf and Country Club. He was a man of quiet faith: while living in Glen Meyer, he got up early Sunday mornings in the cold months to start the wood burning furnace before church, taught Sunday school, and always brought his family to church. Bert delivered Meals on Wheels, and selflessly used his resources to assist countless friends and family members when things were tough. He spent his capital in quiet, unrecognized service of community, faith, and, most of all, family. His family was the most important thing to him, and he showed them in countless ways.
Bert is survived by his family: son Murray (Bev), of London, Ontario; grandson Jonathan (Rachelle), and great-grandchildren Colton, Jayda, & Nolan of Glencoe, Ontario; granddaughter Sarah (Ryan) & great-grandchildren Jack & Charlie of St. Thomas; daughter Mary-Ellen of Simcoe; granddaughter Catherine (Tim) of Simcoe & great-grandchildren children Lucy, Beatrice, & Wilbur; granddaughter Hilary of Hamilton; son Robert (Jean) of Tillsonburg; and daughter Ruth-Ann (Steve) of Tillsonburg & granddaughters Ellen & Emily.
Bert also loved music and dancing a great deal, and we had many a good sing-song around the piano.
A favourite hymn of Bert and his father Murray was “When the Roll is Called up Yonder” , which granddaughters Catherine and Sarah were singing to him as he passed.
When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound and time shall be no more,
And the morning breaks eternal bright and fair,
When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore
And the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there
When the roll is called up yonder
When the roll is called up yonder
When the roll is called up yonder
When the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there
You are there, Dad/Grandpa/Great-Grandpa.
Special thanks to Dr. Roth, TDMH staff on 2nd floor south, Stonebridge community services administrative staff and private support workers, and the many private personal support workers who cared for Bert so kindly.
Friends and relatives will be received by the Abbott family at Ostrander’s Funeral Home Limited, 43 Bidwell St., Tillsonburg, (519) 842-5221 on Thursday, July 14, 2022 from 4:00 - 7:00 pm. The Funeral Service for Bert will be held on Friday, July 15, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. A private family interment will be held at the Tillsonburg Cemetery. Memorial donations to Youth for Christ, Tillsonburg, First Baptist Church Building Fund or Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital would be appreciated and can be mailed directly or by contacting Ostrander’s Funeral Home. Personal condolences and memories can be shared at www.ostrandersfuneralhome.com