Dates

• Existence: 1949 January 15 - 2022 December 8

Biographical Note

Diane Karol Abbott (1949-2022) was a flight attendant for 29 years and flew with Delta Airlines and Western Airlines.

Diane K. Abbott was born on January 15, 1949 in Chicago, Illinois. At some point, she relocated to California. In 1972, she graduated from California State University with a BA in Fine Arts. That same year, she also attended flight attendant training school. Before Abbott became a flight attendant, she worked a variety of jobs, including as an artist, office manager, and receptionist.

In 1984, she began her flight attendant career with West Air/United Express out of Chico, California. As a flight attendant, she served on the Douglas DC-10, the Boeing Model 777, and Lockheed L-1011, among others. In 1985, she joined Western Airlines. In 1986, she took a brief leave of absence from Western to help create the In-Flight Department for Royal West Airlines. In 1987 Delta Air lines acquired Western Airlines and Abbott transitioned with the merger into a Delta flight attendant. She remained with Delta until 2014, when a stroke ended her flight attendant career.

On July 17, 1987, she married Bruce E. Shuey in Las Vegas, Nevada. Abbott was a well-known local artist in the Fresno and Paradise areas of California. She worked primarily in watercolor, acrylic, and collage with her art on display in local West Coast galleries. She also taught children's art classes at Paradise Elementary and the Paradise Art Center. Abbott was a member of the San Joaquin Chapter of the Society of Western Artists and Artquest International. Diane K. Abbott passed away on December 8, 2022 in Fresno, California.

Biography derived from donor information, collection materials, and records on Ancestry.com.

Places

• California (Residence)

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