GILBERT CONRAD "GIL" TABOR

GILBERT "GIL" CONRAD TABOR DERBY LINE - Gilbert "Gil" Conrad Tabor, 73, of Derby Line died Jan. 28, 2011 at his home, surrounded by his loving family. Gil had waged, and lost, a courageous battle with ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gerhig's Disease. He was born Aug. 25, 1937 in Randolph, the son of Kenneth and Elsie (McGee) Tabor. On Dec. 29, 1955 he married Jane Jacobs, who survives him. Gil's family and friends describe him as being wise and personable, with a dry wit, a real man's man. His passions were hunting, fishing, trapping and enjoying all that Vermont had to offer in the great outdoors. Gil was a native Vermonter and Korean War veteran, who devoted more than 26 years to public service. After serving four years with the U.S. Navy, Gil received his discharge (Honorable), returned to Vermont and spent the next two years studying at the University of Vermont. Gil subsequently joined the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, from which he retired in 1993. While there, Gil developed a new concept for the timely handling of all Applications for Alien Benefits, which led to his founding, and Directing, the Vermont Service Center in 1981. Having started out in the basement of the local Federal Building and experiencing rapid growth, a newly built Service Center was opened in 1987 in St. Albans. In 1993, the facility was officially dedicated, and in his honor, named the Gilbert C. Tabor Complex. Mr. Tabor was a member of the American Legion Post 21, of Newport; the Vermont Trappers Association; and he was a life member of the NRA. Among his hobbies he also enjoyed snowmobiling, 4-wheeling, and cutting wood. He is survived by his wife Jane Tabor of Derby Line; his children, Gilbert C. Tabor, Jr. of Derby Line, Shayne Cadieux and her husband Rick of Swanton, and Andrea Allen and her husband Dean of Derby Line. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Cassie, Kylie, RD, Amanda, Owen, Courtney, Brittney and Kassidee; four great-grandchildren, Noah, Jared, Ryker, and Miss Eden Mae. He is survived by two brothers, Kenneth Tabor of Idaho, Church Tabor of Brookfield; his sister, Nathalie Whitney and her husband Roland of Ascutney; and by several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two sisters, Betty Ann Tabor and Gerry Davis. As were Gil's wishes, there will be no wake, no memeorial, nor a funeral service. However, a celebration of his life will be held at 2 p.m. on Feb. 10, 2011 at The Eastside Restaurant in Newport. All family and friends are invited to join in. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, anyone wishing to make a contribution in his memory, do so by contributing to: Compassionate Care ALS, P.O. Box 1052,West Falmouth, MA 02574. Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch- converse-rushford.com. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Curtis-BritchConverse-Rushford Funeral Home, locally family owned and operated.