James J. Gabbard

James J. Gabbard, 75, peacefully passed away Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009, at his home in Port Orange, Fla., surrounded by his family and friends.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. today at Lohman Funeral Home in Port Orange, with Pastor Raymond Sieg officiating. Family and friends may visit from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the funeral home with a reception to follow.
Local services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Voss & Sons Funeral Service, Seymour, with the Rev. Gene Miller officiating. Friends may visit from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. until time of service Saturday at the funeral home.
Graveside services will follow at 3 p.m. Saturday at Fairview Cemetery in Linton, with the Rev. Erin Raper officiating.
Jim was born in Ousley County, Ky. His family moved to Ohio, then to Indiana, where he graduated from Versailles High School in 1954.
As a high school basketball star, he was later inducted into the 2005 Ripley County High School Basketball Hall of Fame. As a graduate from Franklin College, Jim began his 39-year career in administrative education. He completed his master's degrees from both Butler and Ball State universities while he mentored, taught and coached high school levels. He became a principal and completed his EDS degree from Indiana University. He then became superintendent of Medora Community Schools. He received several awards for his accomplishments in education, including the Sagamore of the Wabash award (known as the highest educational achievement award in the state), which was presented to him by the governor of Indiana in 2004.
Jim continued his love of sports throughout his life. After retirement, he and his wife, Charlotte, enjoyed their winters in Florida and eventually moved to Port Orange permanently, where they became members of Beville Road Church of Christ.
Mr. Gabbard is survived by his wife of 32 years, Charlotte; his three children, Lisa Wingfield of Parkersburg, W.Va., Kenneth Gabbard of Kalamazoo, Mich., and Elizabeth Colburn of Rockford, Ill.; two stepchildren, Kenneth Holtsclaw of Bloomfield, Ill., and Charlotte Smith of Vincennes; two sisters, Shirley Halcomb of Versailles and Arzella Cruncleton of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; 12 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Jim was preceded in death by his parents; nine brothers and sister; and daughter, Deanna.
Memorial donations may be made in Jim's memory to Beville Road Church of Christ Youth Ministry Program, 850 Beville Road, Daytona Beach, FL 32114. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.lohmanfuneralhomes.com.
www.vossfuneralservice.com.