Parents Father: TABER, Ernest Wilfred Mother: ROUNDS, Minnie Illingworth Birth Born on November 30, 1923 in Providence, Providence Co., RI Death Died on December 17, 2011 in Santa Maria, Santa Barbara Co., CA Marriages HOLBROOK, Carol Leslie Married on May 30, 1946 in Pawtucket, Providence Co., RI Children TABER, Gayla L.: January 27, 1947 TABER, Roger M.: September 18, 1949 TABER, Wendy Beth: October 16, 1952 TABER, Sally Jean: May 02, 1955 Notes Military Service: WW2 US Army Occupation: Postal Carrier, Driver Obituary: Bob Taber left this world on the evening of December 17, 2011 after 88 spectacular years, including 65 years of marriage to his beloved wife Carol. She was at his side, along with his four children (Gayla Sanchez of Rancho Cucamonga, CA; Roger Taber of Seattle, WA; Wendy Taber of Ventura, CA; and Sally Lochelt of Fillmore, CA) and two of his grandchildren (Janice Rutherford Lim of Fontana, CA and Brandi Borja of Fillmore, CA) when he passed peacefully at his home. He is also survived by two other grandchildren (Sarah Lochelt of Azusa, CA and Corp. Andrew Lochelt, USMC, currently deployed in Afghanistan) and four great-grandchildren. Bob moved to Santa Maria in 1991 after he and Carol had lived for 40 years in Encino, CA. Bob was a member of the Retired Active Mens Club, on the Board Member of Quail Meadows and volunteered with the Sweet & Hot Jazz Festival of Southern California. Jazz had been Bob's lifetime passion, and was known as the "musical bigot." He and Carol formed the Poor Angel Hot Jazz Society which for nearly 20 years held regular gatherings in the San Fernando Valley featuring the most famous jazz musicians on the planet. For his contributions to the advancement of jazz he was profiled as "an unsung jazz impresario" in the 2002 UC Press book "Classic Jazz: A personal Review of the Music and the Musicians" by Floyd Levin. Bob and Carol were married on May 30, 1946, and moved from Rhode Island to California in 1950. He had served in the U.S. Army during WWII as a radio operator and claims to have "won the War in the Pacific." He was born on November 30, 1923, the fifth son to Ernest Wilfred Taber and Minnie Illingsworth Rounds in Providence, RI. Once in California, Bob worked as a postal carrier, drove school buses for L.A. Unified School District, was a tour operator for Greyline, and drove for Hollywood studios. As the children grew, he supported Carol's return to school and her career as an emergency room and jail nurse. Bob leaves a legacy of service and faith, having spent more than 40 years as a deacon at Encino Presbyterian Church. He also volunteered with the Boys scouts and the March of Dimes. Bob was a prolific practical joker. Two of his most memorable April Fools' pranks were designing and distributing brochures for a river cruise of the unnavigable Los Angeles and a boat tour of Central Valley wineries on the equally unpassable Santa Maria River. He collected "bus plunge" headlines and carried business cards that identified himself as an "octogenarian/curmudgeon and husband of Carol." Despite that grouchy description, Bob was loved by everyone. While his character and humor will be missed here, in the words of one of his favorite songs, "The Angels Sing" because he has joined them. The family is planning a memorial service in the future. Published in Santa Maria Times on December 21, 2011