George Richard (Rickey) Abels, 69, of Denton Valley passed away on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, in an Abilene hospital. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, September 24, 2023, at Bailey Howard Funeral Home with Pastor Joel Tobey officiating. Burial will follow at Kendrick Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

Rickey was born August 29, 1954, in Abilene to Cleve Marion and Reba Loraine (Carriger) Abels. He attended school in Odessa. He married Jana Stucks in Odessa on June 1, 1973. He worked in sales for John Deere Industrial for over 30 years. Prior to this, he worked in construction with his father. Rickey was the President of the Callahan County Riding Club for six years and also was a driver for Callahan County Meals on Wheels for five years. He was a Christian and loved the Lord.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Jana Stucks Abels; son, Micheal Abels and wife Lucy of Denton Valley; sisters, Tina Saunders and husband Kenneth of Cisco, Mickey Abels Oden and Vickey Abels Moreno, both of Abilene; brother, Charlie Lockaby and wife Darla of Aransas Pass; sister-in-law, Theresa Abels of Wickett; aunts, Joyce Cobb of Salado and Delia Carriger of Lubbock; his favorite granddaughter, Amanda Abels and many other relatives and friends.

Rickey was preceded in death by his parents, Cleve and Reba; brothers, Cleve Mitchell Abels and David Lee Abels; sister-in-law, Anita Abels and his grandparents, Winnie Mae Abels and George and Lottie Carriger.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations in Rickey's memory to Toys for Tots, https://www.toysfortots.org/donate/ , Callahan County Meals on Wheels, P.O. Box 1155, Clyde, Texas 79510 or the Alzheimer's Association, https://www.alz.org/?form=alz_donate.