Longtime Soldotna resident, Dudley Lee Abbott, 66, died March 2 after a lengthy illness.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Heritage Place, 232 Rockwell Ave. in Soldotna.

Mr. Abbott was born Aug. 22, 1942 to Dudley and Mildred Abbott in Arizona. Dudley came to Alaska in 1955 with his family. They first lived in Whittier where his father was employed by Morrison Knudsen Company as a lumber grader. After moving to Anchorage, his family purchased fishing sites at Otter Creek. Dudley graduated from Anchorage High School in 1960 and immediately enlisted in the Navy, serving in the Vietnam War. He served his country first on a submarine and then an aircraft carrier where he discovered his love of flying. After leaving the Navy he attended aircraft maintenance school in Los Angeles where he graduated top of his class.

He moved to the Peninsula in the 1960s and started his private airplane building and repair business that he operated until his death. The experimental Piper Super Cub replica he built and finished in the late 1980s is still flying Alaska’s skies. An article published by the Peninsula Clarion and Home Built Aircraft magazine in 2001 describes one of the aircraft that he built from scratch. He was quoted as saying, “Before I sign off on a certified plane, I always tell them, ‘You’re going to take me for a ride and make sure it flies.”’ He also won national fiddle contests and built string musical instruments at his shop in Soldotna. His life centered around his love for music. His soul was a musical kaleidoscope. Dudley played the guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, and the balalaika.  

His family wrote, “Dudley was an extraordinarily accomplished and well-known musician, square dance caller, pilot and commercial fisherman. But above all he is loved for his dedication and love for his family and community. He spent almost every Saturday night playing his music for the residents. We will miss him deeply as will all of his friends and family.”

Dudley is preceded in death by his father, Dudley M. Abbott. He is survived by his high school sweetheart of 49 years, Pamela, of Anchorage; stepson, Brandon Erickson of Anchorage; mother, Lou Abbott of Soldotna; sisters, Sheila Patterson and Sherrie Abbott of Anchorage; brother, Dale Abbott of Soldotna; nieces, Lorena Stratton of Palmer, Ginger Slaughter of Anchorage, Tina Abbott of California and Marquela Grote of Soldotna; nephews, Mike Abbott of Sterling and Jimmie Nielsen of Washington.

Memorial donations may be made in memory of Dudley to the Heritage Place in Soldotna, 232 Rockwell Ave. Soldotna, AK 99669.  

Arrangements made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.