John Ralph Abell, Jr., 83, of Leonardtown , MD died October 11, 2008. He passed away on his trusty John Deere tractor while discing a cornfield on his beloved Ellenborough farm in Leonardtown.

Born on August 3,1925 in Hollywood, MD he was the son of the late John Ralph, Sr. and Pauline Hayden Abell.

He was never married and spent his life farming and volunteering for the Leonardtown Fire Department. He graduated from St. Mary's Academy in 1943 and was honored as a lifetime member of the Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department on January 8, 1994 after 50 years of active service. He was also a fixture at the annual fire department carnival where he operated the Octopus Ride for many years.

He ran the family's dairy farm in Leonardtown until it's closing in the 1960's and then raised beef cattle along with corn, alfalfa and soy beans. He enjoyed attending Baltimore Colts games at the Old Memorial Stadium and making his popular stuffed ham during the holidays.

He is survived by three sisters, Marietta Abell Anthony of Annandale, VA, Gladys Abell Johnson of Springfield, VA, and Rebecca Abell MacDonald of Leonardtown, MD. He was predeceased by another sister, Irene Abell Dixon, of Leonardtown, MD.

He is also survived by 16 nieces and nephews, James R. Anthony, Jr., Mary P. Anthony Barbee, John P. Anthony, Ralph A. Anthony, Elizabeth Anthony Rubenstein, Marietta Anthony Saunders, Rebecca Anthony Davis, Ralph Andrew Johnson, Stephen Abell Johnson, Lawrence Marshall Johnson, Marian Johnson Wasem, Robert S. Dixon, Lydia Dixon, David Allen Dixon, John MacDonald, Jr., and Ellen MacDonald Allen. He was predeceased by another nephew, Lester Dean Johnson.

Family will received friends on Monday, October 13, 2008 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home, 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, MD 20650 with prayers recited at 7:00 p.m. with Father Thomas G. LaHood leading. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. in Our Lady's Catholic Church Medley's Neck, Leonardtown, MD the celebrant will be Father John Mattingly. Interment will follow in St Aloysius Catholic Cemetery, Leonardtown, MD. Pallbearers will be John MacDonald, Ralph Anthony, James Anthony, Patrick Anthony, Steve Johnson and Lawrence Johnson.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department, Inc., P.O. Box 50, Leonardtown, MD 20650.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.