Kenneth L. Taber

Kenneth was born on September 2, 1926, to Timothy and Jennie Cecil Taber in Shawnee, Oklahoma, the youngest of three sons. He grew up on the family farm in Econtuchka. He enjoyed fishing and playing sports, excelling in baseball, basketball and track.

Following graduation from Centerview High School in 1944, Kenneth joined the Army to serve in WWII. While in the military, he was an instructor for crewmen of 105-millimeter howitzers, conducting classes in dismounted drill, providing instruction in the use of carbine, M-1 rifle and rocket launcher, chemical warfare, first aid and field sanitation. Kenneth also provided training for operating military vehicles including 2 ½ ton and lighter cargo trucks. He loved his country and his freedom.

Kenneth returned to his hometown of Shawnee where he and his first wife, Gladys, had one child, Phillip Taber. It was during this time in his life that he worked at Sylvania Electric Products. He worked there for many years at locations in Shawnee and Burlington, Iowa. It was in Iowa where he met and married his second wife, Diana in 1966. When the factory closed, the couple returned to Shawnee and they had one child, Sandy Taber. While living in Shawnee, he worked at Runge Manufacturing. In 1978 they moved to Eufaula and later to Muskogee where Kenneth rediscovered his love of resale.

Kenneth never met a stranger and he loved to find good deals at garage sales and auctions. He opened a resale shop in Muskogee where he enjoyed meeting people, greeting customers and swapping tall tales about anything and everything. Kenneth also loved the Oklahoma heat, being outside, gardening and finding ponds to fish as well as wetting his hook at the various lakes in Oklahoma, particularly Greenleaf, Tenkiller, Eufaula, and later in his life at Fort Gibson Lake. It was during this time in 2010 that he moved to Fort Gibson where he lived with his daughter and family.

Kenneth loved spending time with his grandchildren, teaching them how to play dominoes and they (attempting to) teach him how to use modern day technology. They enjoyed family meals, listening to his stories, and watching favorite TV shows together. Kenneth and his family moved to the Oklahoma City area in 2012 where he lived the remainder of his life.

Kenneth liked to work on rods and reels, make lures, sinkers and tie flies. He also enjoyed reading, watching sports and spending time with friends, family and the family pets, especially his favorite cat, Tom who would sit beside him while Kenneth read the newspaper.

Kenneth is preceded in death by his wife, Diana in 1997. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Sandy Taber and Billy Jewell of Piedmont, his son Phillip Taber of Shawnee; grandchildren Anna Jewell of Yukon, Kyle Jewell and partner Danielle Alleman of Piedmont, Stephanie Frazier and husband Carl of Ada, Brandon Taber and wife Renae of Shawnee; great-grandchildren Justin Neether, Hunter Frazier, Heather, Maygan, Johnny, and Alli Taber; great-great grandchildren Liam, Hope and Mackenzie; nephews Gary Taber of Oklahoma City, Greg Taber of Edmond, Warren and Kathy Taber of Norman, Timothy and Betty Taber of Ardmore; numerous other relatives and Kenneth’s dear friend Jinette Thoma of Romulus, Michigan.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to the charity of your choice.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, February 20, 2023 at Chapel Hill Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 8701 Northwest Expressway, Oklahoma City. Burial will be in Green Hill Cemetery in Muskogee, OK on Tuesday, February 21, 2023 at 11:30 a.m.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.chapelhill-okc.com for the Taber family.