Francis Walter Abbott

Peterborough, NH Peterborough's Last Surviving Native World War Two Veteran Dies Francis Walter Abbott, 93, of Peterborough passed away at his home at Scott Farrar while surrounded by family on March 22, 2017. A native of Peterborough, New Hampshire, Francis was the second child born at the Peterborough Hospital on January 21, 1924 to Walter Abbott and Agnes (Smith) Abbott. Growing up in Peterborough during the Great Depression was a difficult period. For many, "there was just not much going on job wise, although some of the older boys in town got jobs constructing the Peterborough pool in 1936, as part of the New Deal's Works Progress Administration (WPA)." Still too young for full-time employment, Francis got a part time job helping the Peterborough High School janitor with daily choices during the summer months. In the spring of 1941, the Peterborough High School Boys' varsity basketball team won yet another New Hampshire state Class M basketball championship under the tutelage of Coach Joe Clark, Francis was a letterman of that championship team. Francis graduated from Peterborough High School in 1941, along with thirty-five other students from the local Monadnock region. While still too young to enlist in military service straight out of high school, in the fall of 1941, Francis enrolled at the University of New Hampshire in Durham where he majored in agriculture. On June 23, 1943, Francis enlisted in the U.S. Army. Although originally slated to serve in the Pacific to fight against the Japanese Empire, Francis finally arrived in Europe where he was assigned as a replacement in H Company, 317th Infantry Regiment. As part of the 80th Division of General George Patton's Third Army, the 317th Infantry Regiment would be one of the first combat units to arrive in the aftermath of the Battle of the Bulge. In the early morning of March 28, 1945, Francis was severely wounded after crossing the Rhine River in the vicinity of Mainz, Germany. After recovering from his combat wounds, Francis received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army on November 7, 1946. Francis worked for nearly twenty-years at Nutting Farm in Francistown, before landing a nearly twenty-five year career at New Hampshire Ball Bearings in Peterborough, New Hampshire. Francis was an active member of the Peterborough community where serviced as a member of the American Legion, Knights of Columbus, Board of Adjustments, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and a member of Devine Mercy Parish. He was well-traveled and enjoyed the outdoors, life and his family. Despite many combat-related disabilities, Francis was a determined skiing, golfer and tennis player. In addition to his loving wife Ethel (Keenan) Abbott, Francis is survived by his children, Kenneth Abbott and his wife Pam of Milford, Michael Abbott and his wife Lynn of Stratham, Charlonne Scribner and her husband Gerry of Stoddard, Denise Toothaker and her husband Ray of Naples, ME, Raymond Abbott and his wife Peggy of Peterborough, Mary Pat Burke and her husband John of Peterborough, Philip Abbott and his wife Maya of Alexandria, VA and Robert Abbott and his wife Jany of Kaiserslautern, Germany. He will also be missed by grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Francis was predeceased by his sons Larry and Peter, as well as his brother Frank Russell Abbott. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday March 29, 2017 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at Divine Mercy Parish, 12 Church Street, Peterborough NH. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Divine Mercy Parish on Thursday March 30th at 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Francis Abbott's name to The Peter Michael Abbott Memorial Fund, PO Box 3132, Peterborough, NH 03458 or www.peterabbottmemorial.org.

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