Richard Joseph "Mr. Football" Tabler, 46, of Lewes, died Thursday, in Lewes Convalescent Center.
Mr. Tabler was the son of Mary Celestine and Richard Dean Tabler, who survive him.
He graduated from Tri Valley High School. He received his undergraduate degrees in both psychology and criminal justice from Muskingum College, where he also played football. He later continued his education at the University of Ann Arbor in Michigan, where he conducted extensive criminology research in Detroit, and received his master's degree.
He taught in the inmate education program at Wilmington College in Ohio. He was also a guard at the Pickway penal facility in Ohio. He moved to Delaware in 1989, where he worked for the Department of Probation and Parole, later working for the Department of Corrections at Gander Hill in Wilmington, where he was a staff lieutenant. He moved to Sussex County in 1991, where he was a captain at the Sussex Correctional Institution.
He was commander of Delaware's first boot camp located in Sussex County. Not only was he commander, but the boot camp was his brainchild and he lobbied diligently and consistently for Delaware citizens' right to maintain the existence of the boot camp in Sussex County.
He was a member of the Friendship Baptist Church, where he was baptized, and was also a member of the male chorus.
In addition to his parents, he was survived by his wife, Graceleane Gibbs-Tabler; a daughter, a son, a brother Martin Dean, three sisters Celestine Ann Ward , Cynthia Kay Price and Regina Hardin, and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, family and friends.
Services were held at Friendship Baptist Church, Lewes.
Mr. Tabler was the son of Mary Celestine and Richard Dean Tabler, who survive him.
He graduated from Tri Valley High School. He received his undergraduate degrees in both psychology and criminal justice from Muskingum College, where he also played football. He later continued his education at the University of Ann Arbor in Michigan, where he conducted extensive criminology research in Detroit, and received his master's degree.
He taught in the inmate education program at Wilmington College in Ohio. He was also a guard at the Pickway penal facility in Ohio. He moved to Delaware in 1989, where he worked for the Department of Probation and Parole, later working for the Department of Corrections at Gander Hill in Wilmington, where he was a staff lieutenant. He moved to Sussex County in 1991, where he was a captain at the Sussex Correctional Institution.
He was commander of Delaware's first boot camp located in Sussex County. Not only was he commander, but the boot camp was his brainchild and he lobbied diligently and consistently for Delaware citizens' right to maintain the existence of the boot camp in Sussex County.
He was a member of the Friendship Baptist Church, where he was baptized, and was also a member of the male chorus.
In addition to his parents, he was survived by his wife, Graceleane Gibbs-Tabler; a daughter, a son, a brother Martin Dean, three sisters Celestine Ann Ward , Cynthia Kay Price and Regina Hardin, and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, family and friends.
Services were held at Friendship Baptist Church, Lewes.
Richard Joseph "Mr. Football" Tabler, 46, of Lewes, died Thursday, in Lewes Convalescent Center.
Mr. Tabler was the son of Mary Celestine and Richard Dean Tabler, who survive him.
He graduated from Tri Valley High School. He received his undergraduate degrees in both psychology and criminal justice from Muskingum College, where he also played football. He later continued his education at the University of Ann Arbor in Michigan, where he conducted extensive criminology research in Detroit, and received his master's degree.
He taught in the inmate education program at Wilmington College in Ohio. He was also a guard at the Pickway penal facility in Ohio. He moved to Delaware in 1989, where he worked for the Department of Probation and Parole, later working for the Department of Corrections at Gander Hill in Wilmington, where he was a staff lieutenant. He moved to Sussex County in 1991, where he was a captain at the Sussex Correctional Institution.
He was commander of Delaware's first boot camp located in Sussex County. Not only was he commander, but the boot camp was his brainchild and he lobbied diligently and consistently for Delaware citizens' right to maintain the existence of the boot camp in Sussex County.
He was a member of the Friendship Baptist Church, where he was baptized, and was also a member of the male chorus.
In addition to his parents, he was survived by his wife, Graceleane Gibbs-Tabler; a daughter, a son, a brother Martin Dean, three sisters Celestine Ann Ward , Cynthia Kay Price and Regina Hardin, and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, family and friends.
Services were held at Friendship Baptist Church, Lewes.
Mr. Tabler was the son of Mary Celestine and Richard Dean Tabler, who survive him.
He graduated from Tri Valley High School. He received his undergraduate degrees in both psychology and criminal justice from Muskingum College, where he also played football. He later continued his education at the University of Ann Arbor in Michigan, where he conducted extensive criminology research in Detroit, and received his master's degree.
He taught in the inmate education program at Wilmington College in Ohio. He was also a guard at the Pickway penal facility in Ohio. He moved to Delaware in 1989, where he worked for the Department of Probation and Parole, later working for the Department of Corrections at Gander Hill in Wilmington, where he was a staff lieutenant. He moved to Sussex County in 1991, where he was a captain at the Sussex Correctional Institution.
He was commander of Delaware's first boot camp located in Sussex County. Not only was he commander, but the boot camp was his brainchild and he lobbied diligently and consistently for Delaware citizens' right to maintain the existence of the boot camp in Sussex County.
He was a member of the Friendship Baptist Church, where he was baptized, and was also a member of the male chorus.
In addition to his parents, he was survived by his wife, Graceleane Gibbs-Tabler; a daughter, a son, a brother Martin Dean, three sisters Celestine Ann Ward , Cynthia Kay Price and Regina Hardin, and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, family and friends.
Services were held at Friendship Baptist Church, Lewes.
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