ROGER C. TABOR

Palmer resident Roger C. Tabor, 70, died peacefully from a long illness Dec. 12, 2008, at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer while surrounded by his family.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Dec. 18 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 501 E. Bogard Road, Wasilla, with Rev. Duane Hanson officiating. Burial will take place at Ft. Richardson following the service.

Tabor was born Feb. 24, 1938, to Myrtle and Frank Tabor in Bluefield, W.V. He came to Alaska in 1971 and had lived in Anchorage and Wasilla prior to moving to Palmer.

He was in the U.S. Air Force from 1955 to 1977 and served three tours in Vietnam working as a boom operator on KC 135 tankers. After leaving the Air Force, he managed and later owned Muldoon Texaco in Anchorage until 1991. He then moved to Wasilla and managed Knik Tire and Auto for his good friend, Herb Rosencrans, until retiring in 2001.

Tabor was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting, camping and skeet shooting, but he especially loved fishing.

His family wrote, “His love of people and congenial personality were his greatest strengths. He had the gift of gab and never met a stranger. He had a multitude of interesting, funny and true stories that entertained and delighted everyone. His grandchildren were a constant joy, and he was very proud of his family.”

He was preceded in death by his son, Steven M. Tabor.

Tabor is survived by his loving wife of 27 years, Ginny Tabor; son and daughter-in-law, Tony and Cheri Tabor; son and daughter-in-law, Paul and Kim Tabor; daughter and son-in-law, Bonnie and Justin Morris; daughter-in-law, Chris Tabor; grandchildren, Steven Paul Tabor, Kimberly Tabor, Kamryn Tabor and Kailyn Tabor, all of Alaska.

Memorial donations may be made to Mat-Su Regional Homecare and Hospice or the charity of your choice.