Wayne Abeel Gresham

Wayne Abeel Gresham November 2, 1924 - July 26, 2010 Wayne Abeel Gresham of Waco passed away Monday, July 26, 2010, at Hillcrest Hospital. Services will be at 10:00 a.m., Friday, July 30, at Western Heights Baptist Church with Mr. Gresham's nephew, Rev. Mike Gresham officiating with Rev. Shelton Markham. Burial will follow at Rosemound Cemetery. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Thursday, July 29, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Garden Room. Abeel was born November 2, 1924, near Bruceville, Texas, to Sam and Lela Gresham. The family moved to Waco shortly after Abeel was born. He attended North Waco Elementary, North Waco Jr. High and Waco High School graduating in 1942. Abeel joined the Navy in January 1943. He served 2 years in the South Pacific and discharged in February 1945 as a First Class Pharmacist Mate. Abeel attended Baylor University, graduating in May 1949, with a degree in Business Administration. He was a member of the Beta Sigma Phi business fraternity while attending Baylor. Shortly after enrolling in Baylor, he married his childhood sweetheart, Beverly King, who was also enrolled in Baylor University. Beverly graduated in 1948. After graduating from Baylor, Abeel worked for Universal Atlas Cement later known as Lehigh Cement Co. He retired after 37 years of service in 1987 as Personnel Manager. Abeel was a deacon at Western Heights Baptist Church and a member of the Crusaders Sunday School class. Abe was a strong Baylor alumnus and attended most of Baylor's football, basketball, and baseball games. He was a member of the Waco Senior Kiwanis Club, the Cottonwood Creek Senior Golf League, the William B. Moody VFW Post #2034, and a long-standing member of the Reuter Rats. He enjoyed playing golf, dominoes, fishing, hunting, and coffee with his many friends. Abeel's first wife, Beverly, died on May 6, 2003. He was very fortunate in finding a new love and married Betty Shanks on July 3, 2004. Mr. Gresham was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Beverly; and his two brothers, B.J. and Edwin Gresham. Abeel is survived by his wife, Betty; two daughters, Nancy Kilgore and husband, Larry, of Midland and Robin Tinsley of Midland; three granddaughters, Marissa and Danielle Kilgore of Austin and Jolie Gray and husband, Josh, of Seguin Abeel was expecting his first grandson in October; and two stepchildren, Charles Woods of Waco and Sondra Shanks Lelle and husband, Richard, of Austin. Pallbearers are Bobby Jack Maness, Pat Gresham, Kim Gresham, Sam Gresham, Charles Woods, and Richard Lelle. Honorary Pallbearers are Dalton Jaynes, Newman Copeland, Gil Merrill, Bill Sallee, H. T. Layman, W. G. Cooper, Joe Yarboro, Weldon Maness, and the Crusaders Sunday Class. Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com.