David Field Abbott

David F. Abbott passed away in the early morning hours of Feb. 20, 2024, in Augusta, Georgia after suffering a long-term illness.

After graduating Fort Hunt High School in Fairfax, VA in 1975, David served as a communications specialist for the US Army based in Hawaii.  Post service, David joined Gannett and was an instrumental member of the team for USA Today when the newspaper was initially launched around the United States.  Subsequently, throughout the 1980's and into the 1990’s, he enjoyed a lengthy career in product marketing traveling globally for several major telecommunications companies.

David’s passions included Ornithology and mastering creative artistry specializing in the mediums of pen and pencil drawings and oil and water- color paintings.  Throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s, his Ornithological endeavors were legendary, focusing mostly on the East Coast of the United States serving as a member of the Virginia rare birds committee, as well as, annually participating in Christmas bird counts, breeding bird censuses and conducting many Big Day bird counts encompassing the states of Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia.  Additionally, David conducted several Big Year bird counts travelling extensively across North America.  

The extreme highlight of his Ornithological career was on November 25, 1997.   Joined by Pamela Rasmussen of the National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, and Ben King of the American Museum of Natural History, NY, the team documented the existence of the Blewitt’s Owl in the forests near Shahada, India.  A small elusive Owl considered extinct based on the last confirmed sighting in 1885, they were astonished to discover not one but two of the species very much alive.

David’s other passions were playing guitar, collecting electric trains and spending time with family and special time with God. David loved the Lord Jesus and was often found quoting Scripture sharing Bible verses, which he shared with others on a regular basis. Most recently David volunteered at the Aiken Mental Health Awareness Program and the Aiken Christmas Parade with horses, which he loved. He attended Lakeside Baptist in Clearwater, SC with family, and had found a wonderful community there.

David leaves behind his sister, Elizabeth Abbott (Youngs), brother-in-law Steve Youngs; brother Robert Abbott and sister-in-law Sandra Abbott; nephews Jackson Youngs and Jacob Abbott and numerous cousins across NC, SC and VA.  He was preceded in death by a sister, Medora F. Abbott, and his beloved wife, Patricia Tan of Columbus, Ohio.

Private services will be held in Aiken, SC. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be given to Disabled American Veterans: https://www.dav.org/.

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