John Wilson "Reds" Abbott Sr., a retired Baltimore firefighter who enjoyed horseback riding, died Saturday of cancer at his Mount Airy home. He was 79.
Mr. Abbott, the son of a painter and a homemaker, was born in Finksburg and raised on McKean Avenue. He was a graduate of Gwynns Falls High School.
Mr. Abbott joined the Baltimore Fire Department in 1956 as a tiller man and was assigned to Truck 12 in the 4000 block of Liberty Heights Ave. in Forest Park. He later served at the Glen Avenue station of Engine 45 until his retirement in 1979.
Mr. Abbott, a longtime resident of Mount Airy, was a member of the Lehigh Riding Club, Carrollton and Mayberry Hounds and was a former member of the Taylorsville Hunt Club.
He was also an avid hunter and fisherman. He collected fox hunting and waterfowl memorabilia.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Burrier-Queen Funeral Home, 1212 W. Liberty Road, Winfield.
Surviving are his wife of 60 years, the former Dorothy Shipley; a son, Jeffrey D. Abbott of Stevensonville; two daughters, Janice C. Spencer of Reisterstown and Joyce Abbott Rill of Manchester; two sisters, Vivian Schouberger of Westminster and June Montour of Hampstead; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
fred.rasmussen@baltsun.com