In Memory

Richard Archie Tabor, 76, of Bascom, Fl passed away Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008, at Jackson Hospital in Marianna from complications resulting from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease). Born April 25, 1932, in St. Petersburg, he was the son of Archie L. and Mabelle Ranney Tabor. Richard, his wife Monika and their three children moved to Bascom in 1978, following his retirement from the Air Force as a senior master sergeant. A 27-year veteran of the armed services, Richard served four years in the Navy followed by 23 years in the Air Force. While in the Navy, he served as chief cook on the submarine USS Patch. After joining the Air Force and attending NCO school, Richard became a ballistic missile analyst technician (BMAT) specialist working on the Atlas F ICBM missile. During the Cuban missile crisis and the assassination of Pres. John F. Kennedy, he manned the missile controls to within three minutes of launch. He later worked in top secret surveillance of all atomic tests and missile launches in the Soviet Union and China. His service to his country took him to bases all over the United States and to assignments as far away as Aviano, Italy; Stuttgart, Germany; and Tempelhof Air Force Base in Berlin, Germany. Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Archie and Mabelle Tabor; two brothers, Philip and Robert Tabor; and two sisters, Lessie Mae Tabor and Jean E. Buike. Richard is survived by his wife of almost 50 years, Monika A. Tabor; one sister, Barbara Greenwell of Centralia, Wash.; two daughters, Michele Tabor Kimbrough of Marianna, and Mercedes Victory of San Antonio, Texas; one son, Michael L. Tabor of Jacksonville; one son-in-law, Art Kimbrough of Marianna; one daughter-in-law, Cindy Tabor of Jacksonville; three grandchildren, Richard L. Tabor of Marianna, Angelica Fisher of St. Simon's Island, Ga., and Roseanne Virginia Rogers of Graceville; and three great-grand children, Abigail, Ethan and Daisy Mae. Richard was proud that all three of his children also served their country in the military. Michele served for 10 years in the Army as a pilot, attaining the rank of captain. Michael served for 20 years in the Navy as a P3 submarine hunter flight engineer, and Mercedes still serves in the Air Force as an education and training manager with the rank of master sergeant.

Visitation will be from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3, at Marianna Chapel Funeral Home, followed by graveside services with full military honors at 3 p.m. at Pinecrest Memorial Gardens in Marianna.