Robert "Papaw" Fabian of Knoxville, Tennessee passed away on April 29,2021 after a brief illness. The only son of Edward and Adelaide Fabian, he resided in the Bearden area until his passing. He graduated from UT with a degree in Civil Engineering but his heart led him into a teaching career that lasted thirty-six years.
His love of Dollywood, camping, German shepherd dogs, cooking and Christmas will leave an imprint of memories on our hearts for years to come.
Though a quiet man with few words, he made an impression on everybody that he met and thrived watching children learn the brilliance of Science through the Science Olympiad program that he created at Bearden Middle School.
He leaves behind his only son, James A. Barger, daughter-in-law, Paula Barger, grandsons Aaron Barger, Marcus Barger and one great granddaughter, Summitt Barger.
As per Mr. Fabian's request he will be cremated and entombed with his parents at Berry Highland Memorial Cemetery. Please consider making a donation in his memory to Small Breed Rescue of East Tennessee or to Smoky Mountain Children's Home.
The Dash
by Linda Ellis
I read of a man who stood to speak at a funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on the tombstone for the beginning...to the end.
He noted that first came the date of birth and spoke of the following date with tears, but said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time they spent alive on earth and now only those who loved them know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own, the cars...the house...the cash. What matters is how we lived and loved and how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard; are there things you'd like to change? For you never know how much time is left that can still be rearranged.
To be less quick to anger and show appreciation more and love the people in our lives like we've never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile...remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.
So when your eulogy is being read, with your life's actions to rehash...would you be proud of the things they say about how you lived your dash?
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