William Tabor

William Don Tabor, 89, of Fort Worth, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at Avalon Memory Care in Arlington, Texas. Graveside services will take place at 1:00 pm, Saturday, October 19, 2024, at Ridge Park Cemetery in Hillsboro. A visitation will be held from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, at Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors, in Hillsboro.

Bill was born October 30, 1934, at Methodist Hospital, Dallas, Texas, to Florance Maxine (Elliott) Tabor and Charles Elmore Tabor. His family lived in several different cities in Texas, including Sherman, Harlingen, Lubbock, Houston, Dallas and finally, Itasca, where he graduated from high school. In May 1956, he married Bonnie Jean Langford. He graduated from Texas A&M University in May of 1957 and went to work at Firestone in Dallas. Between the ages of 25 and 35, he worked in banking in Dallas, Uvalde, Bandera and Temple. He later worked for the founder of Rowan Drilling Company in Houston. Bill moved to Brenham in the early 1970's to work at the State School for six years, then spent five years at a brokerage firm in Houston. In the early 1980's, he moved to Waco, where he worked for six years at the State School. During this time, his two daughters , Cindy and Cathy, graduated from college and married. Bonnie passed away in 1986. He met Barbara Ann Jones in 1987, and they were married July 2, 1988, and moved to Fort Worth. Bill retired from the State School in 1990. In Fort Worth, he worked at the Colonial Country Club for six years, then at the Tarrant County Sherriff's Department for three years. Bill took care of his mother from 1999 until her death in 2002.

He liked to travel, enjoyed snow skiing and playing slot machines at casinos. He also found joy in being a grandfather and great-grandfather and caring for the family's cats. His favorite songs were Amazing Grace and the Aggie War Hymn. In 1978, he took off in a private plane for a check ride to get a private pilot's license. One week later, he bought his first airplane. Bill's dad was also a pilot. He considered his two precious wives, two daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to be his greatest joys in life. Bill's favorite saying was, "As I approach the age of 70 - I've been there, and I've done that." His favorite television show was Monday Night Football, and his favorite brother was Remy who gave Bill his one and only golf lesson he ever had, but he never told him he would lose so many golf balls. Bill's youngest daughter, Cathy, was Queen of Mayfest and became an attorney and Cindy is a PhD in Flagstaff. Both were great highlights in his life. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Fort Worth.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Elmore and Maxine tabor; his wife, Bonnie Jean Langford Tabor; his brother, Remy Tabor; and his nephew, Chuck Tabor. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Ann Tabor; daughters, Cynthia Beckett and her husband, David, of Flagstaff, Arizona, and Catherine Tabor of Austin, Texas; grandsons, Zachary Beckett of Oregon, Seth Beckett of Arizona and Nic Beckett of Arizona; step-granddaughter, Keri Ann Carruthers and husband, Tommy of Denton, Texas; step-great-grandsons Major Carruthers and Brighton Carruthers, both of Denton; extended family, step son Craig Jones of Springdale Arkansas, step-daughter, Monica Jones O'Dell and husband, Danny of Azle, Texas, step-granddaughter, Ashlyn O'Dell of Texas, step- grandson Billy O'Dell and wife, Meagan, and step-great-grandson, Maverick O'Dell.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to your favorite charity.