- Date Of Birth: March 22, 1932
- Date Of Death: June 15, 2019
- State: Georgia
Paul Abernathy, a long-time resident of Greensboro, died Saturday, June 15. He was 87. Born March 22, 1932, to John and Zora Abernathy in McCaysville, GA, Paul grew up in Blairsville, GA, and attended a one-room school-house. At 17, he went to Berry College (Rome, Ga), where he received a bachelor of science degree, working on the school farm to put himself through college. After graduating from Berry, Paul served for three years with U.S. Army Intelligence in Germany.
In 1974, he accepted a position as head of Purdue University’s Department of Foods and Nutrition. During his 17 years as the department head, Paul molded the department into one of the top college nutrition programs in the country. He always told people during his 17 years as the head of Purdue University’s Department of Foods and Nutrition that he liked to hire faculty members smarter than him.
He taught at Purdue for eight years after stepping down as the department head. In retirement, Paul and Mary Frances bought a home on Lake Oconee not too far from where Mary Frances grew up in Sparta. It also allowed Paul to indulge daily in his favorite hobby, fishing. He found plenty of time to volunteer, too.
Paul was preceded in death by his father, John; his mother Zora; his brother, Bill; and his sister, Barbara. He is survived by his wife, Mary Frances; his three sons, Carl, David, and Dan (Beth); two granddaughters, Annie and Amelia; and a sister, Dorothy.
