William D. "Bill" Gabbard

William D. “Bill” Gabbard, 71 of Danville, passed away peacefully, on December 22, 2019.  He was born on December 15, 1948 in Newcastle, Indiana, to Jewell Lakes and William R. Gabbard.  Survivors include his daughter, Billie Gabbard of Danville; 4 grandchildren, Chloe, Briar, Pieper and Haydan Gabbard, and numerous close friends.  His parents, wife and son, Jason Gabbard, preceded him in death. Services will be at 12:00 noon on Saturday, December 28, 2019 in Hall-Baker Funeral Home, Plainfield, with burial to follow in Clayton Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 4:00-8:00 pm on Friday, December 27, 2019 in the funeral home. Online condolences may be made at www.bakerfuneralservice.com

Raised in Connersville, Indiana, on the family farm, he learned early on that hard work and a good work ethic would get you far in life.  He graduated from Connersville High School in 1967 and went on to become a journeyman pipefitter for Indiana Gas. Gabby as he was known his entire adult life, worked at Indiana Gas, later called Vectren, for 32 years and enjoyed the job and the people he worked with.  He often reminisced about those days and how he missed working there after retirement.  

Gabby was the guy who would do anything for anyone.  He didn’t know the meaning of the words can’t or no. He could build anything or make anything work.  It may not have been how anyone else would have done it, but it was how he saw it and it worked. He was the hardest worker, always working on something.  His hobbies included taking care of his animals, gardening, cutting wood, harvesting honey, baling hay just to list a few. And he tried to pass that knowledge down to his children. He was not a big conversationalist, but when he spoke, you could bet it was going to be something necessary and profound.  

In his later years, he taught his daughter Billie the value of slowing down and noticing the little things.  Stopping to enjoy the flowers or watching the squirrels play from tree to tree, watching for the sand cranes to go over... direction depending on the season, pointing out every hawk, eagle or deer along our travels.  He could stand outside smoking and watching the world go by thinking deep thoughts or nothing and just enjoying it for the time spent.

His kids were his everything.  He and Jason worked on so many projects together over the years, they had more than a father and son relationship, they were best friends.  His daughter, Billie, chose to serve her country in the Navy, but upon retirement she came home to be with her dad and they became the best of friends as well.  

Bill had a passion for animals, especially dogs.  He raised many varieties over the years, but English Bulldogs were his heart and soul for many years and he had recently gone into partnership with his daughter raising French Bulldogs.  He loved the personalities of each of his dogs and seeing how they developed.

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