Richard (Dick) B. Tabor died at his home on Dec. 22.
He was born on Nov. 8, 1930, in La Grande to Albert C. and Veda Tabor.
When Tabor was a youngster, his father worked at Emigrant Springs State Park in Meacham. He and his brother, Bill, had fun roaming the woods with their faithful dog. The family moved to La Grande for a few years and then on to Richland, where Tabor graduated from Eagle Valley High School in 1948.
Following graduation, Tabor joined the U.S. Navy, serving for four years during the Korean War. He was stationed on the island of Guam with the military police and served aboard an LST with Port in Japan.
Following his Navy service, Tabor returned home and worked for a core driller doing some of the initial work in preparation for the building of the Brownlee Dam on the Snake River.
On May 8, 1954, Tabor married Virginia Wirth in Richland. They immediately began traveling with the highway department oiling crew, going from one job location to another for three summers. They lived in a little trailer, which his wife towed around Eastern Oregon behind their 1950 Ford car, following his work. Tabor backed his truck across much of Eastern Oregon’s highways doing the oiling projects. One particularly memorable job was from Enterprise to Lewiston, going in reverse all the way.
During the winter, Tabor was stationed at Austin Junction, where he plowed snow and then he became a year-round employee. He and his wife lived at Austin Junction for 10 years before moving to Burns with the highway department. Both of his daughters were born while living at Austin Junction. He ended his working career as the public works supervisor for the City of Burns.
Tabor loved to camp and enjoyed the mountains for camping in the summer and hunting in the fall. After he got the family several snowmobiles, winter was also a great time for him as well. In recent years he gave up the snowmobiles for four-wheelers and four-wheeling became an enjoyment for him, going for rides on his ATV with a host of like-minded enthusiasts. It was also a pleasure for him to use his four-wheeler to plow snow for people and clean off the church and Masonic parking areas.
Tabor and his family spent many vacations on the Oregon coast. This past summer he and his wife were able to make two trips to the coast in spite of the effects of bone cancer.
He enjoyed being a grandpa to his four grandchildren. He liked attending all of the programs they were in and watched all of their sports activities. Tabor also shared his love of the outdoors through fishing, picnicking, camping and family gatherings.
Tabor served as a master of the Masonic Lodge on numerous occasions as well as serving as worthy patron of Eastern Star several times. The Rainbow International for Girls was so important to him that he was a “Rainbow Dad” to many girls over the years. His love for children was a driving force in the volunteer groups he supported.
Tabor was also a member of Kiwanis International, and was proud of the Key Club members and the work they did within the community. He supported both the Kiwanis and Lions Club scholarship programs.
After his retirement he was counted on by the Harney County Senior Center to serve or lend an extra hand. Tabor served on the advisory board for a number of years.
Tabor is survived by his wife of 55 years, Virginia; daughters, Carol Tschida and husband Don of Prineville, and Theresa Tabor of Gresham; grandchildren, Brian Riley and wife Ashley of Baker City, Levi Post of Burns, Kayla Post of Vancouver, Wash., and Austin Tschida of Prineville; brother, Albert “Bill” Tabor of Prineville; and his nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Lucille and Lorna; and brother, Dale.
Contributions in Tabor’s memory may be made to the Kids Club of Harney County, Harney County Home Health and Hospice, the Harney County Senior Center, The Shriners Hospital for Children or a charity of one’s choice.
Services were held on Monday, Dec. 28, at the Harney County Church of the Nazarene. LaFollette’s Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
