Lt. Colonel Robert Gene (Frosty) Nabors, 86, of Southside, Alabama, died in an accident on April 3, 2015.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on April 8, 2015 at Crestwood Funeral Home. Pastor McInnes of Glencoe Cumberland Presbyterian Church will be officiating. Burial at Crestwood Cemetery will follow the funeral. Crestwood Funeral Home is in charge.

Frosty was born in Glencoe, Alabama on June 2, 1928 to Wallace Scott Nabors and Lola Atkins Nabors. He graduated from Glencoe High School in 1947 where he was voted “Best All-Around and Most Intelligent Boy”. He was an outstanding high school athlete, playing football, and basketball. He continued on to college at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama and from there entered the United States Air Force officer training program. He also attended Oklahoma State University in 1968 to work on a Master’s degree.

Lt. Colonel Robert Gene Nabors (retired) had a distinguished career in the United States Air Force as a test pilot, cargo pilot and helicopter pilot (“Genuine Hoverbug”). He graduated the USAF Test Pilot School in 1959 (Class of 59-C). He received numerous accommodations; one of the most notable was the Air Medal for meritorious achievement in 1967 for piloting one of the HC-130-P Hercules tankers that refueled two HH-3 helicopters (Jolly Green Giants) in a record setting non-stop transatlantic flight. He is a veteran of both the Korean and Vietnam wars.

Frosty is preceded in death by his loving wife of 56 years, Bobbie Jean Coleman of Waco Texas, daughter of Curtis Carl Coleman and Vella Ilean Jones Coleman. Frosty always said he didn’t want to get married until he met Bobbie Jean at James Connelly Air Force Base. His commitment and devotion to Bobbie was evident to everyone especially in her final years.

Frosty traveled all around the world during the Air Force and in retirement. This was one of his many passions. His other passions included spending time with his brothers and family and golf. He was an avid and accomplished player, recently still scoring below his age. He was an inspiration to his family to pursue their passions.

He is preceded in death by his four brothers, Wallace Atkins Nabors, Lamar Monroe Nabors, Thomas Lenford Nabors, and Ollie Wilson Nabors; sisters-in-law Mildred Peppers Nabors, and Mara Sharp Nabors; and grandson, James Clayton.

Frosty is survived by his children, Sharon Matthews of Chattanooga, Tenn., David Moncla and wife, Beverly, of Houston, Texas, and Lola Garfield and husband, Michael, of Lowell, Maine; grandchildren, Amanda Matthews Hall and husband, Nigel Hall, Robert Matthews, Jacob Moncla and wife Kellie, Luke Moncla and wife Janelle, Claire Moncla Margheim and husband.