Margaret Abbott

Margaret T. Abbott, maiden name Margaret Eugenia Thompson, passed away peacefully at home on 12/13/2025. She was born 11/26/1940 in York, South Carolina, to Virginia Dare Currence and Luther Thompson. She was raised with brothers Howard (deceased) and Butch, and sisters Ann and Cathy (deceased), all of SC.

Margaret joined the Navy in 1958. She was stationed at NAAS Whiting Field, Milton, Florida, after completing her training in Aviation Electronics Technician at the US Naval Training Center, Bainbridge, MD, Company 35. She was very proud to have served in our military. After leaving service, she took on the duties of a Navy wife and later, Army wife. These tours took her to many bases, including Galveston, TX; Ft. Jackson, SC; Frankfort, Germany; Ft. Riley, KS; and Schofield Barracks, HI. She spent 18 years as a government worker in these locations and earned many awards for her excellence of service. She maintained membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, and Fraternal Order of the Eagles most of her life.

Military service in her family included a brother and sister in the Air Force, a son in the Navy, grandsons in the Air National Guard and Air Force, and a great-grandson joining the Army. Her other sister and a daughter married Army service members.

After her Navy service, Margaret steadily continued learning. She attended Richland Technical Education Center, graduating as the only female in Electrical & Electronics Technology. She then attended Midlands Technical College as a part-time student. She took any opportunity within her GS service to advance personal growth and skills.

She loved family and spent as much time as she could with them, especially holidays and birthdays. Daughters Phyllis (Pam) KS and Victoria NC, and son Michael SC, and more recently, daughter of her heart, Sandra KS. She is survived by grandchildren Ryan and Dustin of KS; Keith, Mitchell, and Michael of SC; and Molly of MI. She was known as GGmom by great-grandchildren Austin, Steven, Kaess, and Daeran, all of KS, and Kaylee and Junior of SC.

Margaret never met a stranger and often “adopted” others into her family, even if just for a meal, someone to talk with, or someone needing real help. She volunteered throughout her lifetime to serve others: Girl Scout Leader, Cub Scout Den Mother, Midweek Meals, The Social of Greenwood, and many others wherever life took her. She especially liked to feed others. This included the neighborhood cats and even some of the local wildlife. She worked into her late 70s, with her last position as the Friendship Meals Coordinator at the Senior Center in Manhattan, KS.

BINGO was her lifetime passion. She played, volunteered, and worked bingo her entire life. She made many long and endearing friendships while enjoying her greatest hobby.

The family would like to thank Interim Hospice for the care of their entire team. Also Sandra, her caretaker. They were all incredible throughout the process and made her passing as easy and joyful as possible.

Memorial services are planned:

Monday, May 18th, 11:00 a.m. — interment at the Kansas Veterans Cemetery, Fort Riley/Manhattan, KS.

Tuesday, May 19th, 4:30 p.m. — memorial with special Bingo games in her honor, American Legion, Manhattan, KS.

Friday, May 22nd — special memorial pull tab after regular bingo, Eagles, Manhattan, KS.