George Thomas Abernathy Sr.

George Thomas Abernathy Sr., 77, of Orange, passed away Saturday, March 21, 2009, in Houston.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday in Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Officiating will be the Rev. Ron Roach. Burial will follow in Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Bridge City. 

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home.

Thomas was born Jan. 4, 1932, in Moscow, Ark., the son of Joseph Malcolm and Viola (Haynes) Abernathy. He was a retired boilermaker with Local 587, and a foreman at American Bridge. He was also a veteran of the Army.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Viola Abernathy, and sisters, Bertha Adcock and Patricia Stokes.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 54 years, Onita Abernathy of Orange; daughter, Vicky Peeler and her husband Randy of Huffman; son, George Thomas Abernathy Jr. and his wife Linda of Odessa; grandchildren, RaeAnn and Justin Peeler, Loni Saenz, Teresa Oglesby and Katherine Abernathy; great-grandchildren, Ryan and Ronnie Mouser and Zara Hollis.

Serving as pallbearers will be Tommy Abernathy, Justin Peeler, Johnny Taylor, Ed Lipscomb, Eloy Saenz and Shane Chapman. Honorary pallbearer will be Kirby Taylor.