- Date Of Birth: March 8, 1930
- Date Of Death: December 1, 2022
- State: Florida
Robert Leonard Gabriel, 92 of Shalimar Florida, passed away on December 1, 2022 following complications from a brief illness.
Robert (Bob) was born in Ybor City in March 1930 to parents, Leonard E. Gabriel and Grace Ahrens Gabriel. He spent his early childhood in Miami and then in later years, Charleston, South Carolina where he loved dancing and going to the beach with his friends.
Bob joined the U.S.
In his last active duty assignment, 1976-1979, he became the first Senior Enlisted Advisor/AF SOC Command Chief (Air Force Special Operations Command) at his beloved Hurlburt Field.
He served one tour of duty in the Korean War and multiple tours of duty in Vietnam from 1964 to 1967.
After retiring in 1979 he went on to the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center at Fort Bragg North Carolina to become a civilian Military Freefall Instructor with the Military Freefall Committee (HALO Committee). He is primarily responsible for the many combat parachute tactics used in both the Army and the Air Force. Bob loved skydiving and made his last jump on October 13, 2003 with his son, Mark and daughter-in-law, Donna. It was jump number 10099 and with that final jump he had an accumulated total freefall time of 150 hours, 32 minutes, and 07 seconds.
He was an animal lover and supported the ASPCA, along with numerous animal shelters in the Fort Walton Beach area. His generosity also extended to St. Jude’s Hospital for children and Operation Smile, an organization that provides cleft surgeries for disadvantaged children worldwide. Bob was larger than life, with a generous spirit and a magnetic personality. He was loved by all who knew him, and he will be sorely missed.
Bob is survived by his son, Mark K. Gabriel, Sr., and daughter-in-law Donna of Winter Haven, Florida, grandson Mark K. Gabriel, Jr. and wife Amanda, and great-grandson Benjamin Cooper Gabriel of Port St. Lucie, Florida. Bob is preceded in death by his loving wife of more than fifty years, Marie (Susie) Phillips Gabriel and his son Kurt Gabriel.
