Thomas Gray Cabe

FRANKLIN—Thomas Gray Cabe, 81, of Franklin, NC, passed away Saturday, March 10, 2012. Born in Franklin, he was preceded in death by his parents, the late Frank and Zora Seay Cabe, and a brother, R.L. Cabe, all of Franklin. Tom was a proud veteran of the United States Air Force, having served during the Korean War from 1951 through 1955. He was assigned to the 13th Bomb Squadron which debuted the B-26 Night Intruder and deployed to Kunsan, Korea, from September 1952 until August 1953. He was then assigned to the 41st Air Rescue Squadron from September 1953 until October 1955 when he received a discharge with honors including the Sigmon Rhee award, a Good Conduct medal, a United Nations ribbon, and a Korean Campaign ribbon. He was immediately reemployed as a civilian Jet Engine Technician with the 3550th Field Maintenance Squadron at Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, GA, where he completed 25 years of civil service in November 1975. During his tenure he served as crew chief for maintenance of the T-38 Supersonic Trainer jets and Fighter jets. Survivors include his wife, Mary Helen Cribb Cabe of Franklin, formerly of Nashville, GA; daughters, Debbie Crowe and her husband Bill of Athens, GA, and Peggy Lloyd and her husband Greg of Nashville, GA; son, Jonathan (Jody) Cabe of Nashville, GA; stepson, Bill Cribb and his wife Linda of Columbus, NC; sisters, Edith Luse of San Antonio, TX, and Kathleen Tallent and her husband Cecil of Asheville, NC. Tom's grandchildren are Army Officer Candidate Jonathan Carpenter of Washington, DC, Amanda Lloyd of Valdosta, GA, Andrew Lloyd of Columbus, MS, Joseph Carpenter of Athens, GA, Christopher Smith of Asheville, NC, and Jerry McKinney of Brevard, NC. Funeral services with military honors and burial will be held at 12:00 noon, Thursday, March 15, 2012, in the Chapel at Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Black Mountain, with Greg Lloyd, son-in-law of the deceased, officiating. West Funeral Home is assisting the family. In lieu of flowers, his family is requesting that donations be made to Clark's Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, Franklin, NC; Rathbun Center, Asheville, NC; Hospice House of the Carolina Foothills, Landrum, SC.