William P. Zabel

William “Bill” Peter Zabel (Garbini), 74 of Fort Wayne, Ind., went to the great theater organ in heaven on Friday November 30, 2018. Bill worked for Tokheim and was the founder of Z-Tronics, Inc., inventing, manufacturing and selling electronic relays for pipe organs. He was a long-time board member of the Manor Park Association. He was a charter member of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church.

Bill was an instrumental charter member of the Embassy Theatre Foundation, organized to save the theatre from demolition. He was an honorary member of the American Theatre Organ Society, receiving their Industry Achievement Award in 1994. He also received an Arts United Award in 2017 as an Outstanding Arts Advocate.

Bill is remembered for his eccentric ingenuity in electronics, hope to revive every broken device, well-planned hijinks, love of great jokes, wit and ability to turn a phrase, unconditional love of animals, ever-present email correspondence, strong politics, willingness to drop what he was doing to help others, and beaming pride and love of his family.

Bill is survived by his wife of 50 years, Barbara J. (Bendlin) Zabel. Their children are Andrew Zabel, already in heaven, Steve and Melissa (Weirich) Zabel with Soren and Marek of Indianapolis, and Rebecca and Wes Rader with Cameron of Fort Wayne.

Service is Wednesday, December 5, 2018 at 1:00 pm at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, 11228 Coldwater Road Fort Wayne, with an hour of calling prior to the service. Calling, Tuesday, December 4, 2018 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at D.O. McComb and Sons Funeral Homes-Pine Valley 1320 E Dupont Road Fort Wayne.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The Embassy Theatre Foundation and Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.domccombandsons.com.