Milton LaPrade Tabbot

Milton LaPrade Tabbot, 97, of Spartanburg, SC went home to be with the Lord on February 21, 2024.  He was the devoted husband to the late Barbara Ann Wallace Tabbot and was also a loving father, grandfather, brother and uncle. 

Born in Brunswick, Georgia, on January 14, 1927, he was the son of the late Eugene Stillman Tabbot, Jr. and the late Mary Abbey Myers Tabbot. Mr. Tabbot is survived by his three sons, Milton LaPrade Tabbot, Jr. of Brooklyn, New York; James (Jimmy) Crews Tabbot and daughter-in-law, Elizabeth (Liz) Clare Kolesar Tabbot of Denver, Colorado; William (Bill) Wallace Tabbot and daughter-in-law, Vicky Ann McHone Tabbot of Spartanburg, SC; five grandchildren, James (Jake) Jacob Tabbot of Denver, Colorado; Matthew (Matt) Paul Tabbot and granddaughter-in-law, Evelyn Irwanto Tabbot of Toronto, Canada; Morgan Danielle Tabbot of Alexandria, Kentucky; William (Bill) Wallace Tabbot, Jr. and his significant other, Brianna (Bri) Kendall Brown of Spartanburg, SC; and Caitlin Nicole Tabbot of Spartanburg, SC. 

He was pre-deceased by his loving wife of 64 years, Barbara Ann Wallace Tabbot; a sister, Edna Lorraine Tabbot Lytle, two brothers, Eugene Clarence Tabbot, and John Stillman Tabbot.

Mr. Tabbot graduated from Boiling Springs High School in 1943 and is a 1950 graduate of Wofford College where he received a B.A. in Education/Business. While at Wofford College, Mr. Tabbot was also a member of ROTC. He also earned a Masters Degree in Administration from the University of South Carolina in 1954 and continued his post-graduate studies where he earned an Education Specialist Degree at the University of South Carolina Spartanburg.

Mr. Tabbot is a World War II Veteran. He enlisted on 25 October 1944 and served as a Private First Class in the 7th U.S. Army Air Forces 92nd Fighter Squadron as Airplane Crew Chief on a C-46 Commando aircraft. He was stationed at Wheeler Field on the island of Oahu, Hawaii in the Pacific Theater of operations. He was honorably discharged from military service at the Separation Center at Camp Beale, California on 23 January 1947. He was awarded the World War II Victory Medal.

Beginning in 1950, Mr. Tabbot taught school in Spartanburg School Districts 5 & 7. He was certified and taught every subject area on both the primary and secondary level through his years as an educator. He was also certified as a school administrator. At the beginning of his career in education he also was the girl's basketball coach at Reidville High School. Beginning in 1954-1955 he spent the remainder of his career in education at Houston Elementary School as a Physical Education Teacher until his retirement. During his summer months away from teaching, he was employed as a U.S. Department of Agriculture Federal Peach Inspector.

While serving as an educator at Houston Elementary School, Mr. Tabbot established and founded the Spartanburg School District 7 Credit Union which in later years became known as the Spartanburg Educators Credit Union as educators from other school districts throughout Spartanburg County wanted to join. This credit union remains true to Mr. Tabbot’s original purpose and mission to protect the financial security of teachers into retirement. It was critical to Mr., Tabbot's vision that teachers be able to retain enough income to ensure no teacher would ever suffer from financial insecurity in the latter years of their lives. This was paramount to him!  Mr. Tabbot retired from Houston Elementary School after over 40 years as an educator in Spartanburg City and County schools.

Mr. Tabbot was a long-time member of Trinity United Methodist Church, where he was a faithful follower of Christ.

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 PM, Sunday, February 25, 2024 in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, 2075 East Main Street, Spartanburg, SC 29307.  Reverend Michelle Cockcroft will officiate.  Military Honors will be presented by American Legion 200, Boiling Springs of which Mr. Tabbot was a member.

In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to Trinity United Methodist Church, 626 Norwood Street, Spartanburg, South Carolina 29302