Louis R. Tabit went home to be with the Lord on December 2, 2014. Louis was a lifelong resident of Montgomery, WV where he was born July 24, 1932 to the late Andrew and Frieda Tabit who were immigrants from the country of Lebanon. He was also preceded in death by his wife Norma and his brothers William and Robert.
Louis was president of the Montgomery High School graduating class of 1950, now Valley High School, and was an outstanding player in football, basketball and baseball. Upon graduating from high school, he attended West Virginia University for one year and played on its Freshman Basketball team. He transferred to the University of Notre Dame Du Lac and in June 1954 graduated with at B.S. degree in Accounting. He enrolled in Georgetown Law Center, Washington DC and graduated with a J.D. degree in February 1957.
Louis began his eight year career in State Government in 1957 as special Assistant Attorney General: Director, Business Occupation Tax Division and State Tax Hearing Examiner. Upon leaving state government, he opened his private practice in Montgomery in June 1969, serving the citizens of Montgomery and Fayette County for 50 years, retiring in 2009.
Other accomplishments include Town of Ansted Attorney, Deputy Commissioner of Delinquent Lands for Fayette County, President of the Montgomery Chamber of Commerce (2 Terms), Director of the Upper Kanawha Valley Chamber of Commerce (10 years), Director of the Upper Kanawha Valley Economic Development Corporation (6 years), President of Valley District Democrats (12 years), recipient of the Golden Bear Athletic Club President's Award, Two time recipient of the Montgomery Key to the City Award, Commencement speaker at Valley High School, founded and developed the Montgomery Wayside Park, Chairman of the Committee to upgrade U.S. Route 60, and President of the Notre Dame Club of Southern West Virginia. He was president of the Hampden Corporation and president of Tabit Realty, Inc., and General Partner of Tabit Enterprises, real estate corporation. He was a member of the Fayette County Bar Association and the West Virginia Bar Association. He was awarded a resolution naming his an Honorary Citizen of Kanawha County by the Kanawha County Commission. Master of Ceremonies, Montgomery Centennial Celebration, Upper Kanawha Valley Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year award. He was a strong supporter of the local colleges and has made contributions to the athletic department at WVU Tech, Bridgemont Community and Technical College, and also sponsored several scholarships to both educational institutions.
He married the late Norma Lea Hanshaw in the Log, Chapel at Notre Dame and hey had two children, who survive him, Mark A. Tabit of Pacific Palasides, CA and Mary Janet Tabit of Chicago, IL. He also has four grandchildren; Christina, Luke, Tyler and Justin Tabit. His two children and four grandchildren are all graduates of the University of Notre Dame. He was the founder and developer of "Christ the Teacher" statue on campus at the University of Notre Dame.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 AM Saturday December 6, 2014 at St. Anthony's Shrine Catholic Church in Boomer, WV with Fr. Mark Gallipeau as Celebrant. Burial will follow in Montgomery Memorial Park at London. Friends may call from 6:00 PM until 9:00 PM on Friday, December 5, 2014 at O'Dell Funeral Home, Montgomery where a Christian Wake Service will be held at 8:00 PM. Expressions of sympathy can be sent at www.odellfuneralhome.com