Ghabour Ghabour, loved the outdoors, animals
Ghabour Ghabour, 83, died of complications from Alzheimer’s disease Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in Lewes.
Born and raised in Al Fayoum, Egypt, to Miriam Morgan Girgis and Fayek Ghabour, Ghabour earned a veterinarian’s degree from the University of Cairo. In September 1969, he immigrated to the U.S. in hopes of a better life for his future family, spending brief stints in New York, Texas, and New Jersey. In 1972, he returned to Egypt, where he married Janette, to whom he would remain married for 52 years until his passing. In February 1976, days after the birth of their first child, the Ghabours moved to Georgetown, where Ghabour took up a USDA job as inspector-in-charge at Perdue. He would serve faithfully there until his retirement 35 years later.
As a legendary teller of stories and jokes, Ghabour, affectionately known by many as “Doc,” was the life of every party and the energy that powered his boisterously joyful home life with Janette and their three children. He avidly loved the outdoors, frequenting the trails and pond on his property daily for as long as his legs would support him. A lifelong lover of animals, he kept dogs, cats, chickens, ducks, goats, and a turkey (named “George Washington”) on his farm at home. In all things, Ghabour was incapable of envy, pessimism, or ingratitude. He always said that God had given him more than he ever dreamed of and more than he deserved. That spirit never diminished as his body began to fail him. Even serious setbacks left him thanking God “a 1,000 times” for whatever he still had.
Ghabour was preceded in death by his sister, Wedad; and grandson, Elijah. He is survived by his wife, Janette; daughter, Sally; sons, Eddie (Lauren) and Joey (Becky); grandchildren, Eddie Jr., Lilly and Gavin; and many brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 12, at St. Andrew the Apostle Orthodox Church, 33384 Mackenzie Way, Lewes, followed by burial at Union Cemetery, Georgetown.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that in remembrance of Ghabour, a charitable donation be made to Delaware Hospice, delawarehospice.org/donate/memorial-gifts; or the Alzheimer's Association, alz.org/delval?form=FUNDHYMMBXU.
Arrangements are in the care of Short Funeral Services, Milton.
Online condolences for the family may be shared at shortfuneralservicesandcremation.com.
