John E Cabral, 81, of Tiverton, R.I. passed away Tuesday, March 5, 2024 at Charlton Memorial Hospital. He was the husband of the late Lisa (Lawton) Cabral for 38 years.
Born in Fall River, son of the late Joseph P. Cabral and Shirley A. (Tripp) Cabral, he had lived in Tiverton since 1980. He was a graduate of Westport High School, Class of 1960 and was a devoted husband and father. John was the owner/operator of Westport Excavating for 55 years, proudly taking it over from his father in 1969. He was also one of the original founders of The Blue Angels Car Club of Westport. John loved his hot rods, his B-model Macks, playing in the dirt with his excavator, spending time with his family and friends and going out for breakfast. He especially loved being "Pop Pop" to his beloved granddaughter, Ruby.
John had a larger than life personality, great sense of humor, a big heart full of generosity, and always good for a story or a one liner that would make you laugh. To all that knew him "Johnny Excavator" was one of a kind and if you were lucky enough to know him, you were lucky enough.
John is survived by 2 daughters : Christine M. Carr and her husband Peter of Swansea and Tanya Earle and her husband Bruce of Westport; 2 brothers David Cabral of Westport and William Cabral of Westport; 3 sisters: Virginia Famolare of Bradenton, Florida, Lydia Camara of Dartmouth and Sharon Miranda of Westport; a granddaughter, Ruby Earle and several nieces and nephews.
He was the brother of the late Joseph Cabral and Manuel Cabral; and the beloved son-in-law to his favorite dinner partner "Mimi", Priscilla Lawton.
Memorial Mass to which relatives and friends are invited will be Saturday, March 16, 2024 at St. John the Baptist Church, Westport at 11:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: St. Jude's Children's cancer research hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl., Memphis, TN 38101.