Major Carl William "Gabe" Gaborik, U.S. Army Retired of Hampton, VA died peacefully at home on January 6, 2014 following a long struggle with Alzheimer's Disease. Born in Denver, CO on July 31, 1928 to Martin and Magdalena Gaborik. He joined the Army as an E1 at the age of 17 and progressed through the enlisted grades through E-9 and eventually retired with the rank of Major. He graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 1966.

During his twenty five years of military service, Gabe served in WWII, the Korean war and Viet Nam.

He was a proud member of the Masonic Lodge and was a 33rd Degree member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. He served as a trustee and secretary of the Board of the Scottish Rite Speech and Language Foundation. He held life memberships in William J. McMahon Lodge #303 in Newport News, Monitor Lodge No. 197 in Hampton and Poquoson Lodge #49, the Khedive Temple A.A.O.N.M.S. in Chesapeake, VA, and the Peninsula Shrine Club. Gabe was the National Commander in 2005-06 of the Heroes of '76, a veterans' affiliate of National Sojourners. He held MIP membership in the Langley-Monroe Chapter #310 of Sojourners, as well as 30 other chapters around the country.

Gabe was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Dollie J. Gaborik, and six brothers. He is survived by his second wife, Mary Sue Gaborik; two sons, Carl (Sue) of Hampton and Mark (Teresa) of San Antonio, Texas; two sisters, Kate Hamilton and Eva Goodrich of Michigan; three grandchildren, Jeremy (Judi) of Chesapeake, Sara (Jen) of Chester, and Stephen (Gretchen) of Thornton, Colorado. Other survivors include several great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces and nephews.

A memorial service with Masonic rites will be held at the R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home Chapel on Saturday, January 11, 2014 at 10 A.M. Burial will be private at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Gabe's name to the Newport News Scottish Rite, 65 Saunders Road Newport News, VA 23601 or to a charity of your choice.