Jimmy Mills Abraham of Terre Haute, Ind., died Wednesday, February 25, 2009 surrounded by his loving family. He was 76.


Jim was born was born Dec. 24, 1932, to Jim and Cleda Abraham in Charleston, Ill. He attended Casey High School, afterward enlisting in the Air Force for four years.


In 1954 he married Phyllis Hickox. They were married 54 years, and blessed with six children.


He graduated from Eastern Illinois with a bachelor’s degree in physics, and went on to a highly distinguished career in aerospace engineering, including critical work on the Hubble Space Telescope. Jim had numerous patents to his name.


His interests included hiking, including traversing the Grand Canyon six times; jogging, including finishing two marathons; golf, bowling, camping and photography.


Jim was blessed with a scientific mind, but our God and his creation was always Jim’s amazement. Plain and simple, he was a humble man who was an avid student and teacher of the Bible.


He was never without a smile for his children and grandchildren, who were the joy of his life.


He was preceded in death by his parents, one son, David, and a brother, John. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis; five children, Lynette (Mike) Thayer of South Paris, Maine; Rod Abraham, of St. Charles, Ill.; Jeanne (Gordon) Lothamer of Fort Wayne, Ind.; James (Scheli) Abraham of Crawfordsville, Ind.; and Chad (Heather) Abraham of Snowmass, Colo.; a brother, Jerry; 13 treasured grandchildren and five great-grandkids. He is also remembered by many friends and business associates. His spirit lives on through all of them.


Funeral arrangements are scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 28, at 1 p.m. at Markwell & Son Funeral Home in Casey, IL. Visitation will be held two hours prior.


In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a donation of one’s choosing.

Memorial tributes may be sent to the family at www.markwellfuneralhome.com. Markwell Funeral Home of Casey, Illinois is in charge of the arrangements.

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