Diane Olivia Lois (Linker) Tabor, 82, of East Hampton, CT, with a heart full of love for her family and friends, passed on into the glory of the kingdom of the Lord on Tuesday, December 3, 2024.
Diane was born in Ft. Wayne, IN, to Carl and Wilma Winona (Crawford) Linker. Diane was the youngest of four children: Bill Linker, Margaret Ross (MN), and Carla Wilhoit (IN).
On November 1, 1963, Diane married the love of her life, D.F. John Tabor. Diane is now welcomed with open arms into the kingdom of heaven by her husband, who preceded her in death on June 21, 2003.
A devoted and loving mother, she leaves behind her children: daughter Diana (Tabor) Marsh and her husband Paul of East Hampton, Connecticut; son Jon Tabor and his wife Misti (Deaton) of Trenton, OH; and son Stephen Tabor and his wife Wendy (Walter) of Marysville, OH. Her children were her source of laughter and joy, and they remain committed to carrying on her memory and wisdom, particularly with her grandchildren – Niklas Paul Marsh and Olivia Louise Marsh (Diana and Paul), Emily Armina Tabor and Amanda Louise Tabor (Jon and Misti), and Lyla Lynn Tabor, Malynn Farnbauch, Caitlin Andrick, and Connor Andrick (Stephen and Wendy). In addition to her children and grandchildren, she will be missed by her nephews, who were like younger brothers to her.
Upon graduating from the Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing in 1963, Diane started her career as a nurse in the Lutheran Hospital’s OBGYN department in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Over her 50+ years as a nurse, Diane worked in various areas of nursing in Indiana, Ohio, and Connecticut.
While her career started in Indiana, many of her years were spent nursing in Ohio. Diane and her family lived in Bellefontaine, Ohio, for over 25 years, where she and her husband raised their three children and were an active part of the community. Diane worked at Mary Rutan Hospital and Heartland of Bellefontaine in various nursing-centric positions.
Her final nursing roles were in CT, with her final position being with Alzheimer’s patients, which became her favorite part of her career. After retiring as a nurse, Diane enjoyed attending Bethlehem Lutheran Church with her family and friends, spending time at the East Hampton Senior Center, but most of all, spending time with family and friends in CT and Ohio.
Diane was an avid sports fan and loved all sports, but she especially loved THE Ohio State Buckeyes and Cincinnati Bengals. She got great joy watching her grandchildren participate in sporting events and activities. Diane was an avid card player, and for the record, never let her children or grandchildren win.
Though the void her absence has created can never be filled, we are so grateful for the time the Lord gave her to spend on this earth. She gave of her heart, mind, body, and soul, and this world is truly a better place for her having been in it.
A special thank you to Middlesex Health Hospice, especially Hannah, Dori, and Sarah. Their love and care throughout the last seven months meant everything to Diane and her family.
A service to welcome her home into God’s kingdom will be held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in East Hampton, CT, on Saturday, December 28, at 11 a.m. Services will be led by Pastor Jamie Stall-Ryan, whom Diane adored.
In lieu of flowers, donations in celebration of Diane’s life can be made to Middlesex Health Hospice Program c/o Middlesex Health, Office of Philanthropy, 28 Crescent Street, Middletown, CT 06457, or online at MiddlesexHealth.org/hospicedonation. To leave online condolences please visit www.spencerfuneralhomeinc.com.
