Rudy Vallee Abbott
December 29, 1940 - February 9, 2022
Graveside services for Rudy V. Abbott, 81, of Jacksonville, will be held at Anniston Memorial Gardens on Friday, February 11, 2022, at 2:30 p.m. The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. Rudy passed away on February 9, 2022, in Gadsden, AL after a long battle with covid-pneumonia. He was born to Harvey and Beatrice Abbott on Dec. 29, 1940, in Anniston, AL. Rudy graduated from Wellborn High in 1959 where he lettered in baseball, basketball, football and track. He attended Jones Junior College on a football scholarship in Laurel, Mississippi and returned to Alabama to pitch for JSU in 1962. Rudy threw two no-hitters his first season at JSU and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 1964 he returned to JSU where he began a 32-year career as a sports information director and later as the baseball coach. When Rudy retired in 2001 his career record was 1003-467. Seven of his teams advanced to the NCAA Division II College World Series, and his 1990 and 1991 teams were the NCAA Division II World Series champions. Rudy has been inducted into the JSU Athletic Hall of Fame, Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, Calhoun County Sports Hall of Fame, and Gulf South Conference Hall of Fame.
After retiring from JSU, Rudy became a three-term Calhoun County Commissioner. His best memories as a commissioner were helping his local schools and community. Rudy improved many youth sports programs by building and maintaining little league baseball fields and he offered numerous free baseball clinics where he taught young kids to hit and throw. He was instrumental in passing a one-cent sales tax which continues today to provide additional funding for all Calhoun County schools.
Rudy loved gardening and working on his farm in Jacksonville. He enjoyed riding the tractor and cutting grass. Rudy was incredibly proud of his alma mater, JSU, and continued following their sports teams as their #1 fan. He spent a great deal of time with his grandchildren who called him Poppa and loved him dearly.
Rudy is survived by his wife, Sue (Camp) of 57 years; his daughters, Kelli Hayn (Brad) and Karen Abbott; sons, Taylor Abbott, Kaleb Abbott, and Brantley Abbott; grandchildren, Haley Bussey, Caldwell Bussey, and Kayla Rice; sister, Rosemary Cofield; and numerous other nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Kaleb Abbott, Caldwell Bussey, Drew Lewiski and Colton East. Honorary pallbearers will be all JSU Former Baseball Players who played for Coach Abbott.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to be made to Jacksonville Church of Christ, 329 Nisbet Street NW, Jacksonville, AL 36265.
December 29, 1940 - February 9, 2022
Graveside services for Rudy V. Abbott, 81, of Jacksonville, will be held at Anniston Memorial Gardens on Friday, February 11, 2022, at 2:30 p.m. The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. Rudy passed away on February 9, 2022, in Gadsden, AL after a long battle with covid-pneumonia. He was born to Harvey and Beatrice Abbott on Dec. 29, 1940, in Anniston, AL. Rudy graduated from Wellborn High in 1959 where he lettered in baseball, basketball, football and track. He attended Jones Junior College on a football scholarship in Laurel, Mississippi and returned to Alabama to pitch for JSU in 1962. Rudy threw two no-hitters his first season at JSU and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 1964 he returned to JSU where he began a 32-year career as a sports information director and later as the baseball coach. When Rudy retired in 2001 his career record was 1003-467. Seven of his teams advanced to the NCAA Division II College World Series, and his 1990 and 1991 teams were the NCAA Division II World Series champions. Rudy has been inducted into the JSU Athletic Hall of Fame, Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, Calhoun County Sports Hall of Fame, and Gulf South Conference Hall of Fame.
After retiring from JSU, Rudy became a three-term Calhoun County Commissioner. His best memories as a commissioner were helping his local schools and community. Rudy improved many youth sports programs by building and maintaining little league baseball fields and he offered numerous free baseball clinics where he taught young kids to hit and throw. He was instrumental in passing a one-cent sales tax which continues today to provide additional funding for all Calhoun County schools.
Rudy loved gardening and working on his farm in Jacksonville. He enjoyed riding the tractor and cutting grass. Rudy was incredibly proud of his alma mater, JSU, and continued following their sports teams as their #1 fan. He spent a great deal of time with his grandchildren who called him Poppa and loved him dearly.
Rudy is survived by his wife, Sue (Camp) of 57 years; his daughters, Kelli Hayn (Brad) and Karen Abbott; sons, Taylor Abbott, Kaleb Abbott, and Brantley Abbott; grandchildren, Haley Bussey, Caldwell Bussey, and Kayla Rice; sister, Rosemary Cofield; and numerous other nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Kaleb Abbott, Caldwell Bussey, Drew Lewiski and Colton East. Honorary pallbearers will be all JSU Former Baseball Players who played for Coach Abbott.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to be made to Jacksonville Church of Christ, 329 Nisbet Street NW, Jacksonville, AL 36265.
Rudy Vallee Abbott
December 29, 1940 - February 9, 2022
Graveside services for Rudy V. Abbott, 81, of Jacksonville, will be held at Anniston Memorial Gardens on Friday, February 11, 2022, at 2:30 p.m. The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. Rudy passed away on February 9, 2022, in Gadsden, AL after a long battle with covid-pneumonia. He was born to Harvey and Beatrice Abbott on Dec. 29, 1940, in Anniston, AL. Rudy graduated from Wellborn High in 1959 where he lettered in baseball, basketball, football and track. He attended Jones Junior College on a football scholarship in Laurel, Mississippi and returned to Alabama to pitch for JSU in 1962. Rudy threw two no-hitters his first season at JSU and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 1964 he returned to JSU where he began a 32-year career as a sports information director and later as the baseball coach. When Rudy retired in 2001 his career record was 1003-467. Seven of his teams advanced to the NCAA Division II College World Series, and his 1990 and 1991 teams were the NCAA Division II World Series champions. Rudy has been inducted into the JSU Athletic Hall of Fame, Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, Calhoun County Sports Hall of Fame, and Gulf South Conference Hall of Fame.
After retiring from JSU, Rudy became a three-term Calhoun County Commissioner. His best memories as a commissioner were helping his local schools and community. Rudy improved many youth sports programs by building and maintaining little league baseball fields and he offered numerous free baseball clinics where he taught young kids to hit and throw. He was instrumental in passing a one-cent sales tax which continues today to provide additional funding for all Calhoun County schools.
Rudy loved gardening and working on his farm in Jacksonville. He enjoyed riding the tractor and cutting grass. Rudy was incredibly proud of his alma mater, JSU, and continued following their sports teams as their #1 fan. He spent a great deal of time with his grandchildren who called him Poppa and loved him dearly.
Rudy is survived by his wife, Sue (Camp) of 57 years; his daughters, Kelli Hayn (Brad) and Karen Abbott; sons, Taylor Abbott, Kaleb Abbott, and Brantley Abbott; grandchildren, Haley Bussey, Caldwell Bussey, and Kayla Rice; sister, Rosemary Cofield; and numerous other nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Kaleb Abbott, Caldwell Bussey, Drew Lewiski and Colton East. Honorary pallbearers will be all JSU Former Baseball Players who played for Coach Abbott.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to be made to Jacksonville Church of Christ, 329 Nisbet Street NW, Jacksonville, AL 36265.
December 29, 1940 - February 9, 2022
Graveside services for Rudy V. Abbott, 81, of Jacksonville, will be held at Anniston Memorial Gardens on Friday, February 11, 2022, at 2:30 p.m. The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. Rudy passed away on February 9, 2022, in Gadsden, AL after a long battle with covid-pneumonia. He was born to Harvey and Beatrice Abbott on Dec. 29, 1940, in Anniston, AL. Rudy graduated from Wellborn High in 1959 where he lettered in baseball, basketball, football and track. He attended Jones Junior College on a football scholarship in Laurel, Mississippi and returned to Alabama to pitch for JSU in 1962. Rudy threw two no-hitters his first season at JSU and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 1964 he returned to JSU where he began a 32-year career as a sports information director and later as the baseball coach. When Rudy retired in 2001 his career record was 1003-467. Seven of his teams advanced to the NCAA Division II College World Series, and his 1990 and 1991 teams were the NCAA Division II World Series champions. Rudy has been inducted into the JSU Athletic Hall of Fame, Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, Calhoun County Sports Hall of Fame, and Gulf South Conference Hall of Fame.
After retiring from JSU, Rudy became a three-term Calhoun County Commissioner. His best memories as a commissioner were helping his local schools and community. Rudy improved many youth sports programs by building and maintaining little league baseball fields and he offered numerous free baseball clinics where he taught young kids to hit and throw. He was instrumental in passing a one-cent sales tax which continues today to provide additional funding for all Calhoun County schools.
Rudy loved gardening and working on his farm in Jacksonville. He enjoyed riding the tractor and cutting grass. Rudy was incredibly proud of his alma mater, JSU, and continued following their sports teams as their #1 fan. He spent a great deal of time with his grandchildren who called him Poppa and loved him dearly.
Rudy is survived by his wife, Sue (Camp) of 57 years; his daughters, Kelli Hayn (Brad) and Karen Abbott; sons, Taylor Abbott, Kaleb Abbott, and Brantley Abbott; grandchildren, Haley Bussey, Caldwell Bussey, and Kayla Rice; sister, Rosemary Cofield; and numerous other nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Kaleb Abbott, Caldwell Bussey, Drew Lewiski and Colton East. Honorary pallbearers will be all JSU Former Baseball Players who played for Coach Abbott.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to be made to Jacksonville Church of Christ, 329 Nisbet Street NW, Jacksonville, AL 36265.
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