F. Velma Abbott, a Sacramento area and Placer County artist for the past 15 years, died from cancer, Monday, Oct. 5, 1987, at her Citrus Heights Home.

 Miss Abbott’s works included woodcarving, oil painting, and sculptures.  She was a former manager of Gallery One in Auburn and helped to coordinate art shows for the Placer County Fair for the past two years.

 A native of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, she moved to California with her family during the Great Depression and graduated from Richmond High School in Alameda County.  She then played with the old All American Girls Professional Baseball League during World War II and, after the league disbanded, joined Delta Airlines as a stewardess.  She worked with the airline until 1965.

 Mis Abbott then pursued her career as an artist and moved to Sacramento about 15 years ago.  She was a member of the Placer County Arts Guild and Northern California Artist Association.

 She was survived by brothers, William Abbott of Fair Oaks and Ted Abbott of Pleasant Hill; a sister, Colleen Abbot  Szpila of New York; and many Canadian cousins.

 Miss Abbot requested that any remembrances be made to the F. Velma Abbott Scholarship Fund c/o Wells Fargo Bank, Fair Oaks.

 A memorial art show and auction for the scholarship fund will be held at a later date.

Flora Velma Abbott was a utility infielder who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 2", 110 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.

A native of Regina, Saskatchewan, Abbott was one of the sixty-four girls from Canada who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during its 12 year history. A light-hitting reserve player, she was able to play at second base and third and showed speed on the bases, while playing for four different teams in a span of two years.

Before joining the league, Abbott played in California with the Alameda Girls, a twice World Champion in amateur softball. She entered the AAGPBL in 1946, dividing her playing time between the Kenosha Comets, Peoria Redwings and Rockford Peaches. She posted a collective .178 batting average in 52 games, driving in five runs while scoring 15 times. Abbott opened the 1947 season with the Fort Wayne Daisies, playing for them as a regular at third base. She hit .141 with 27 runs and 15 RBIs, including 18 stolen bases and her only career home run.  

 Velma died January 1, 1997.  Burial unknown.