Samuel J. Abate

Published 6:00 am Monday, October 11, 2010

    A celebration of life service for Samuel J. Abate will be held Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the family residence in Meridian.

    Mr. Abate, 70, of Meridian, died Friday, Oct. 8, 2010, at Anderson Regional Medical Center. Mr. Abate served with the United States Navy from 1959-1979, when he retired at NAS Meridian as a chief petty officer. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War.

    After his military career, Mr. Abate worked for the United States Postal Service in Meridian, and was later transfered to Laurel.

    In 1984, Mr. Abate returned to Meridian and ben his career with Delco Remy/General Motors. He was transferred to the Doraville, Ga., assembly plant in 1999 and eventually retired from General Motors in 2003 and returned to Meridian.

    Mr. Abate was an active member of St. Patrick Catholic Church and was a 4th Degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus, Council 802 in Meridian.

    Survivors include his son, Michael Abate of Tallahassee, Fla.; Kathy Crimm (Roger) and Margie Smith (Charlie), all of Meridian; five grandchildren, April Fuller, Cody Fuller, Sam Abate, Christine Abate and Melanie Warren; and two great-grandchildren, Hunter Fuller and Neil Bateman.

    He was preceded in death by his father, August Abate; his mother, Margaret Baltzell; his wife, Judith Ann Abate; and a brother, William Abate.

    The family requests that memorials be made to the American Cancer Society or plant a tree in a location of your choice in honor of Mr. Abate and his beloved wife, Ann.