Francis Gabbert

Francis A. Gabbert of Sabetha passed away on Friday, April 18, 2008 at the Sabetha Manor. He was just three days short of his 95th birthday.

Francis was born on the family farm 4 miles south & 2 miles west of Goff, KS on April 21, 1913, the fifth child of Adolph Joseph "Ed" and Evaline "Eva" (Wilcox) Gabbert. He was raised and worked on the family farm and went to a one room country school, completing the eighth grade in 1928. He then went to Bancroft High School and graduated with the class of 1932. That summer, he attended Emporia State Teacher's College and continued working the family farm. In the summer of 1933 he obtained his state teacher's certificate and that same fall began his teaching career at Rose Hill country school in Nemaha County. After three successful and rewarding years at Rose Hill in the summer of 1936 Francis was hired as Principal of Corning Elementary School. Francis married Alice Maxine Johnstone on August 5, 1936 in Soldier, KS. They setup their home in Corning as the new school year and new teaching job began. Francis taught the 7th & 8th grade classes, coached the girls and boys basketball and softball teams. His dreams had come true. Unfortunately his chosen career was interrupted. Through most of the war years he worked at the Cessna Aircraft Defense Plant in Wichita, KS.

After VJ Day, Francis moved his family back to Bancroft and was hired as a teacher and basketball coach at the Bancroft High School for the 1945-46 school year. In the summer of 1946 Francis was hired as Principal of Goff Elementary School. He taught the 7th & 8th grade classes, coached the girls and boys basketball and softball teams. His dreams came true again. After eleven successful and rewarding years at Goff, in the summer of 1957 Francis was hired as Principal (Chief Administrator) of the Rochester Independent School in Topeka. Rochester was much larger with an enrollment of around 300 students in grades K thru 8th grade. After 43 years in the education profession with some challenges, many successes, and innumerable personal rewards Francis was retired by law at 65 years of age in 1978.

Francis earned his Bachelors of Arts degree in 1959 and Masters of Education degree in 1963 from Washburn University.

From their joint retirement in 1978 until 2000, Alice and Francis spent their winter months in Indian Lake, TX. He was a charter member of Goff Lions Club. Francis was a member of the Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. M. of Kansas for 67 years.

Francis was preceded in death by his loving wife of 70 years, Alice (July 14, 2007);
sister, Hazel Arietta Hinton; brothers, Harold "Dutch" Thomas Gabbert, Walter "Bunk" Roland Gabbert and Ralph "Connie" Waldo Gabbert.

His son, Gale and wife, Brigitte Gabbert of Windcrest, TX; sisters in law June Aziere of Tulsa, OK and Frances Johnstone of Centralia; 12 nephews and 3 nieces survive him.


Funeral services will be 10:00 AM Friday at the Mortuary with a visitation to be held one hour prior to services. Burial will follow at the Fairview Cemetery in Goff.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association in care of the funeral home.