Mr. William Mahood Abbot, Jr
February 23, 1943 - August 26, 2020
Charleston, WV
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Mr. William Mahood Abbot, Jr
February 23, 1943 - August 26, 2020
Charleston, WV
Obituary
William Mahood Abbot, Jr., 77 of Charleston, WV formerly of Hamilton, MT passed away peacefully at home on August 26, 2020.
Bill was born in Charleston on February 23, 1943 to the late Edythe C. and William M. Abbot. He attended Charleston High School and graduated from Fishburne Military School in 1961.
Bill attended and played basketball at Elon and Morris Harvey College. While at Morris Harvey he was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He played basketball for the University of Concepcion, Chile. After returning to Charleston, Bill enlisted in the Navy. He was stationed in California and was on the USS Hancock aircraft carrier during the Vietnam War. Upon honorable discharge from the Navy, Bill returned to Charleston to help run the family business, Nelson Transfer and Storage, which at that time did local and long distance moving.
Bill’s first love was fishing and after many trips West to go hunting and fishing, Bill was able to fulfill his dream of moving to Montana in 1978. He enrolled in an Outfitters and Guides school in the Bitterroot Valley. After completing the Guide school, he began a career of taking people on guided fishing trips. The business known as “Trout Fishing Only” soon became popular with West Virginians and people from across the US. Western Montana’s beautiful scenery, and great trout fishing on several different rivers, brought people back year after year. In 1998 Bill opened the Bitterroot Fly Company in Darby, MT (an Orvis Fly Fishing store) which is still operating today. He was a member of the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association.
In 2012 Bill returned to Charleston to continue overseeing the family business which recently sold after being in the family over 100 years. He made several trips back to Montana to visit friends and fish the rivers and streams he loved so much.
Bill leaves behind his wife of 27 years, Mary Beth Neenan Abbot, his sister Eva Lee Kelly, stepsons Brian Bonsall of Atlanta, GA, Rob Bonsall of San Jose, CA and several nieces and nephews. He had many lifelong friends who have many great memories of their times together; among them Roger Murad of Charleston who has been a close friend for many years.
Family and friends are invited to attend a ceremony to celebrate his life which will be held 1:00 p.m. Friday, September 4, at the Abbot cemetery in Beckwith, WV with Rev. Philip Dunn officiating.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Kanawha Hospice or the Kanawha County Humane Association.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.barlowbonsall.com .
Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Graveside Service
- Date & Time: September 4, 2020 (1:00 PM)
- Venue: Abbot Cemetery
- Location: Beckwith, WV - (Get Directions)
18 responses to Mr. William Mahood Abbot, Jr
Clark Harder says:
April 2, 2024
I have been Bill’s friend since maybe 1948. It is hard to remember anything we did not do together. Mainly we played sports together all growing up. We spent one summer together in Florida when we were about 17. Billy beat me to a basketball game to 1000 which resulted in a fight. A rematch was played 30 years later in Montana and he won again. You can say we were competitive. When we were about 10 years old Billy saw me eating carrots and I told him my eyes would Galway’s be better than his. Years later after I began to wear glasses and Billy did not well you guessed it Billy had a laugh.. I have always been close with Eva Lee and especially Billy’s mother. It is really hard to ponder Billy not being here. I know Billy had a good life including a good marriage with Mary Beth . I do miss not being able to call Billy and say. Hello.
Calvin D. Ostrom says:
December 4, 2020
I did not get to know Bill well I was his neighbor in Hamilton Montana for a few years worked for him a short while. I shared with Bill that Ronald Reagan was Tau Kappa Epsilon in his collage years. I did not hear of his passing until today Dec 3rd 2020 I can say I liked Bill, rest in peace Bill. Mary Beth take care.
Sandy Thornbrugh says:
December 3, 2020
So sad and sorry to learn today of Bill’s passing.
I’ve often wondered what came of my long ago friend. I suppose it was not long after he’d moved to MT that we met. As his friend Hoppy said, he was always there for you, and ready to lend a hand. Or in my case, an ear and maybe a shoulder.
I’m happy to learn that Bill had found the Love of His Life in Mary Beth.
My deepest condolences to you.
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