Gene P. Abel: A Lifetime of Leadership, Service, and Civic Engagement
Gene P. Abel has never been one to settle for the status quo. A lifelong leader, author, and military officer, Mr. Abel has consistently found himself at the forefront of innovation, service, and public impact.
Early Life and Education
Born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in 1941, Gene P. Abel grew up in a family of German and Scottish heritage and attended public schools. He married Lucy D. Brinker in 1960 while studying at Penn State University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Finance and Economics. He later completed his MBA at Lehigh University.
Abel was a distinguished military graduate at Penn State and received a Regular Army commission in 1963 as a second lieutenant in the Field Artillery branch.
Military Career and National Service
In 1968, he transitioned from active duty to the Army Reserve as a captain. Over the next 25 years, Abel rose through the ranks, ultimately retiring as a colonel in 1993. He was a graduate of the prestigious U.S. Army War College and earned multiple commendations, including two Meritorious Service Medals. His final post was as commander of the U.S. Army Financial Services Activity, responsible for the wartime financial operations of up to 500,000 troops.
He was nominated for a general officer rank after just 19 years of service—a rare accomplishment—but the classified nature of his nuclear weapons assignment and absence of combat experience limited that path.
Civilian Career and Educational Leadership
After leaving active duty, Abel became a financial analyst for the space and electronics industries before beginning a 13-year chapter in higher education administration. He held mid-level executive roles at the University of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital.
In 1981, the Army called him back to active duty to lead a redesign of the military pay system for the Army Reserve and National Guard. Two years later, he returned to civilian life as a senior executive at a $2 billion regional bank in Allentown, Pennsylvania, overseeing operations at more than 50 branch locations.
Abel returned to education in 1985 as Dean of Business Services at Reading Area Community College. His final professional role was as Chief Operating Officer for Central Bucks School District—one of the largest in Pennsylvania—where he managed more than $120 million in new school construction and led daily operations during a period of major growth.
Political and Community Involvement
In the 1970s, Abel was actively engaged in politics, serving as a member of a committee and as campaign chairman for a state legislator. He was certified for Federal Senior Executive Service positions, and his biography has been featured in Who’s Who in the World and Who’s Who in Finance.
After retiring in 1998, Abel moved with his wife Carol to Southwest Florida. There, he served as president of the Cape Coral Housing, Rehabilitation and Development Corporation—a nonprofit dedicated to supporting low-income seniors and homeowners. He was also a board member of Christ Lutheran Church School in Cape Coral.
Personal Life
Mr. Abel has been married three times. He divorced his first wife in 1977 and later married Carol Lynne Kallenbach, with whom he lived in East Norriton, Pennsylvania. Carol passed away from cancer in 2008.
In 2010, Gene met Susan Anne Bittner, a medical technologist. They married in 2011 and now live in South Jersey with Susan’s two sons. Gene serves on the Church Council of Apostles’ Lutheran Church in Turnersville, New Jersey.
He is the father of three children, stepfather to five, and grandfather to seven.
Writing and Publications
A prolific writer, Abel has authored three books and dozens of articles published nationwide. His writing spans military, political, and economic topics, and he continues to contribute thought leadership to public discourse.
In January 1977, he was divorced from his first wife, and in December 1977, he married Carol Lynne Kallenbach. He lived with Carol and her three children in East Norriton, PA, and in November 1981, was asked to return to active duty at Ft Harrison, IN, to head the team redesigning the military pay system for the Army Reserve and National Guard. In 1983, upon returning to civilian life, he became an officer at a 2-billion-dollar bank in Allentown, PA, where he oversaw operations at over 50 locations.
In 1985, Mr. Abel returned to education and was appointed Dean of Business Services at the Reading Area Community College. His last position was the chief operating officer for one of the largest school districts in Pennsylvania. During the more than 12 years he served as the chief operating officer of the Central Bucks School District, he oversaw the construction of more than $120 million in new schools while running the rapidly growing school system. Mr. Abel was active in politics in the ’70s and served as a committee person and campaign chairman for the state legislator in his area. His biography appears in Who’s Who in the World and Who’s Who in Finance and he was certified for Federal Senior Executive Service positions. He has written 3 books and scores of articles published throughout the country. In 1998 he retired to Southwest Florida with Carol, his wife of 26 years. In 2006 he was president of the Cape Coral Housing, Rehabilitation and Development Corporation, a nonprofit organization that provides low-income senior housing and helps low-income homeowners repair their homes. He served on the board of the Christ Lutheran Church School in Cape Coral, Florida. In 2008 his wife Carol passed away from cancer and Mr. Abel returned to Pennsylvania.
In 2010, Mr. Abel met a Jersey girl, Susan Anne Bittner, and was married in January 2011. Susan is a Med Tech at the local hospital and they live in South Jersey with Susan’s two boys. Mr. Abel currently serves on the Church Council of Apostles’ Lutheran Church in Turnersville, NJ and remains engaged in politics. Mr. Abel has three children, five stepchildren, and seven grandchildren.