William Carl Abraham

William Carl Abraham, of Astoria, passed away on Oct. 5 at the age of 89.

Carl, as most people in Astoria knew him, was born Feb. 20, 1934, in Ryderwood, Washington, to Opal and Albert Abraham.

Carl is survived by his wife, Carol Abraham; his three children from a previous marriage, Brian Abraham, Lori Halverson and Curt Abraham; his stepchildren, Judy Goff-Menegat and Allan Goff; as well as eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

At the age of 15, Carl apprenticed at Columbia Optical in Portland, and was granted the first optical dispensing license in the state of Oregon. He was recruited to Astoria in 1973 by Dr. John Banholzer to be the dispensing optician at Sunset Optical, where Carl worked for 25 years until retirement.

In his early years, Carl served in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict. He was stationed in St. Louis, Missouri, making glasses for the service personnel, including President Dwight Eisenhower.

Carl was a member of West Hills Christian Church in Portland, and a member of First Baptist Church of Astoria and Grace Episcopal Church in Astoria. His faith journey was marked first and foremost by service to others.

He was most proud of the many years he was an active member of the Lions Club, achieving numerous service awards, including induction into the Lions Club Hall of Fame. He also served as district governor from 1990 to 1991. With the Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation, Carl transported human eyes to patients all over Oregon and Washington state for more than 10 years.

He went on 15 eye-glass missions around the world with the charities Mercy Ships, Amigos, Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH)/International, and the Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation, dispensing over 35,000 pairs of glasses providing the gift of sight to people around the globe.

He was extremely proud of the Eyeglass Dispensing Optical Program he developed at the Pendleton Correctional Facility for women. More than a hundred women benefited from this program, and were later employed in optical fields.

Additionally, Carl helped restore and operate the Astoria Riverfront Trolley, one of his favorite projects, and in 2009 received the George Award from the Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce in recognition of an “extraordinary record of unselfish service to the Astoria-Warrenton area.”

Carl was a member of the Trails End Rock and Mineral Club, the Mazama Club, summiting Mount Hood, Mount Rainer and Mount Saint Helens, and spent several years singing with the King’s Choral Ambassadors.

His favorite hobbies included working with stones, producing beautiful and unique jewelry and creating stained glass pieces, several which are on display at Clatsop Retirement Village.

A memorial service will be held for William Carl Abraham at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11 at Grace Episcopal Church in Astoria.