Island City, Oregon
Wendell H. Abell, 81, of Island City died Saturday at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Boise. Viewing will be from 4 to 6 p.m. today at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. A graveside service will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Island City Cemetery.
Mr. Abell was born Dec. 23, 1924, to George and Josephine Graham Abell in La Grange, Mo. He had polio as a child. The family made three trips to Oregon before finally settling here. He began working in a lumber yard in Portland at the age of 16. On May 6, 1952, he married Constance Ott in La Grande. He worked for Hydes’ Market and Zimmerman’s until his retirement but continued to work part-time at Zimmerman’s.
He served as mayor of Island City in 1961 and 1962, and was a member of the Island City Fire Department. He served on the Island City School Board and Island City City Council, and was a past member of the Lions Club. He enjoyed fishing on Catherine Creek, trips to the Mormon Basin with his brothers, trips around the valley, working in his yard and socializing.
Survivors include his wife of Island City; a son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Debra Abell of Portland; siblings and their spouses, Bernard and Shelly Abell of La Grande, Leon Abell and his companion Beverly Britian of Milton-Freewater, Homer Abell of North Powder, and Eva and John Kimmelshue of Hood River; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and other relatives. Two sons, Terry Lee Abell and Robert Earl Abell, two brothers Roy Lee and Robert Earl Abell, and a sister, Thelma Abell, all died earlier.
Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association in care of Daniels Chapel.
The Observer Online, Obituaries for the week ending Sept. 2, 2006, Published: September 5, 2006