ABERNATHY, Samuel Emory
Source: Danville Commercial News Wed. Sept 26 2012
Samuel Emory Abernathy, 70 of rural Veedersburg Ind. departed on his last and eternal patrol at 2:11 p.m. Sunday Sept 23, 2012. He was born Aug 9, 1942 in West Lebanon Ind. to Stephen E. and Lotha M. Spivey Abernathy, who preceded him in death. He also was preceded in death by an infant son, Jeffrey Evan in March 1965; one grandchild and a sister Janice Ferrior. Sam graduated from Perrysville HS in 1960 and joined the US Navy in November of that year. His career spanned 30 years before he retired as senior chief in 1990. He takes the most pride in being a submarine veteran on nuclear powered submaries, along the commissioning crew of USS Bergall and USS Plunger. He made several Cold War deployments to the Mediterranean Sea, eastern Atlantic and western Pacific oceans. He was a life member of US Submarine Veterans Inc. and a life member of Submarine Veterans, Hoosier Base in Greenwood, Ind. He was an at large member of American Legion Post 268 Veedersburg. Sam is survived by his wife of 50 years, Nancy Lee Dunivan Abernathy, a daughter Nadita Lynn (Cliff) Saunders of Upland, CA; two sons, Scott Eric ( Cheryl) of Cayuga Ind., and Lee Emory of Danville; and five grandchildren, Hilary (Steve) Robbins, Ryan Moody, Leah and Trenton Abernathy and Gilliam Saunders. Also surviving are three sisters, Shirley (Lloyd) Curry of Georgetown and Carol (Lloyd) Jackson and Gretchen Hudchison, both of Crossville Tenn; a brother, Stephen Abernathy of Veedersburg; a half brother, Richard ( Paulette) Spivey of Williamsport Ind; and step mother Eva Abernathy, stepbrother Allen Smith and two step sisters, Melva Smith and Barbara Weath ?, all of Veedersburg. Sam most recently retired from the trucking industry after 21 years as an instructor-trainer and driver. A gathering of friends will be 4-7 EDT Friday Sept 28 at Shelby Funeral Home Covington with a memorial service and military honors at 7 p.m. EDT. Per his request he was cremated.