Frank Thomas Abell, 87, of St. Clement’s Shores, Compton, MD, died November 18, 2004 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Leonardtown, MD. Born January 10, 1917 in Leonardtown, MD, he was the son of Violet Ching Abell Bussler and Thomas Hogan Abell. He was the loving husband of Theresa Ann Grabis Abell whom he married on June 22, 1940 in St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bryantown, MD. He was the devoted father of David Franklin Abell of Leonardtown, MD and Patricia Ann Abell Greenwell of Compton, MD and father-in-law of their respective spouses – Ruth M. “Dolly” Abell and Wilson Greenwell, Jr.; proud grandfather of Pamela Lynne Abell of Hollywood, MD, James Todd Greenwell of Hollywood, MD, David Brian Abell and his wife Lisa of Harwood, MD, Scott Franklin Greenwell of Compton, MD and Bruce Lee Abell of Winchester, VA; great-grandfather of Amelia Abell of Harwood, MD, and foster great-grandfather of Tommy and Michelle King of Compton, MD. He is survived by his sisters, Annie Elizabeth Abell McCully of California, MD, Mary Lorena Abell Tennyson of Clements, MD, Katie Dolores Bussler Kozak of West Grove, PA, Claudia Lee Bussler Mattingly of Compton, MD and brothers, John T. Abell (World War II MIA), Francis Arlee Abell of Loveville, MD, George Hoover Bussler of Compton, MD, and Carroll Roger Bussler of Leonardtown, MD. He was a lifelong St. Mary’s County resident and graduate of Margaret Brent High School, Class of 1936. Upon graduation he went to work for the District Grocery Store in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Abell, a civil service retiree, began his career with the Federal Government at the U. S. Naval Powder Factory in Indian Head, MD in October 1941. He transferred to the Patuxent River Naval Air Station in December 1945 where he remained for 37 years as a civil servant until his retirement in April 1978.

He then drove a bus for the Office on Aging and the St. Mary’s County Health Department for a number of years during which time he made many new friends who remember him well for his laughter and enjoyment of life. He enjoyed being with his family and through the years loved gardening, the water and all the activities that it offered – crabbing, oystering and fishing. He was a Charter Member of the Knights of Columbus, St. Francis Xavier, Missionary Council #10957. Pallbearers will be his grandsons, James Todd Greenwell, David Brian Abell, Scott Franklin Greenwell and Bruce Lee Abell and nephews Ralph Charles Grabis, Jr. and John Hugh Mattingly. Memorial contributions may be made to the Leonardtown Volunteer Rescue Squad, P. O. Box 299, Leonardtown, MD