Robert was born to Myron and Hattie Babbs in Minnesota. The family moved to Illinois when he was young, living in Fair Grange, Ashmore and Westfield, where he spent his boyhood years until joining the Civilian Conservation Corps, which took him to Mt. Horeb, WI. There, he met Kathryn Wirth.
They married 11/04/1939, in the Little Brown Church, in Nashua, IA. "Bob" worked for Oscar Mayer & Co., Warner Elec., Messner Inc., and retired from ERA Refrigeration. He liked to hunt and fish and enjoyed volunteering at the Town of Madison Hall during elections. He was a member of St. Marks Lutheran Church, where he was always on call for any emergencies, and Steamfitters Local 601.
He is survived by his daughter, Darlene (Bill) Retallick, grandchildren, Kim (Dale) Voss, Charles (Amy) Retallick, Robert (Jean) Retallick, Tracy (Rochelle Buss) Retallick; great grandchildren, Shannon and Miranda Voss, Sean and Ryan Retallick, Nichole, Kaitlyn and Charles Retallick II, Miranda Machgan, Dayne Retallick, Eric, Tyler and Casey Buss; a sister, Marion Reed; two brothers, Ralph (Arlene) Babbs, and John Babbs; and many nieces and nephews.
Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Kathryn, in October 1998, and a great-grandson, Joshua "JJ" Voss, in December 1997.
Funeral services were held on Thursday, August 9, 2007 at 10:30 AM at Gunderson East Funeral Home, Monona Drive, with Rev. Mary Pharmer presiding.
Colonel John Braddock Babbs, Sr., born July 17, 1917, passed away the evening of
January 7, 2019 from an infection of the gallbladder.
He was the son of Myron David Babbs and Harriet (Hattie) (Van Der Weerd) Babbs, born
in Crookston, Minnesota.
He enlisted in the US Army in 1941 as a private and made the Army his career rising to
the rank of full Colonel.
He served in WWII in the European Theater, Korea and Vietnam.
He retired from the Army in 1968.
Military awards included Legion of Merit, and the Purple Heart.
After retirement from the military, he and several partners formed Coastal Land
Corporation in1968 and were active in the Newport News area.
He was predeceased by his wife Rosetta and his brothers Robert, Ralph and Charles and his sister Marian.
He is survived by his three children, Barbara Babbs of Washington, DC; John Babbs Jr. of Winchester, VA; and Priscilla Hopkins of Woodbridge, VA.
Colonel John Braddock Babbs was a Regular Army Colonel and Master Army Aviator whose military assignments were mainly in development, testing, training and combat usage of Aviation (helicopters and airplanes) in the Army. His 28 years of active service divide roughly as: 7 years combat, principally as a field unit commander and staff officer, in the campaigns of Africa, Sicily, Italy, Korea and two tours in Vietnam; 5 years of equipment service testing and Aviation field operations research; 11 years General Staff at Director and Project Manager levels; 3 years in War Gaming; and the balance as a student or faculty member in the Army's school system.
He elected early retirement late in 1969 to take personal control of residential and commercial real estate holdings in upper Newport News. An avid hunter and horseman, for his 70th birthday he purchased himself a farm in Providence Forge, Virginia on which to raise and train hunting dogs and American Saddlebred horses.
ROSETTA VIRGINIA BABBS (Age 89) On May 22, 2008, at Fairfax Nursing Center, Fairfax, Virginia. She had Alzheimer's disease. She was born Rosetta Virginia Doering in Chicago, Illinois. She was one of six children of William and Sylvia Doering.
After her marriage she resided in several states with her husband, an Army officer. Mrs. Babbs served as a volunteer manager of the Ft. Monroe, Virginia thrift shop, and later as a respite care volunteer in Newport News, Virginia. She enjoyed singing in the church choir, swimming and crossword puzzles.
Survivors include her husband of 68 years, Colonel John B. Babbs, U.S. Army, (Ret.) of Newport News, Virginia and three children, Barbara Babbs of Washington, DC, Priscilla Hopkins of Falls Church, Virginia and John Babbs, Jr. of Winchester, Virginia.
Effingham, IL - 1 Dec 2010
Marion E Reed, 92, of Effingham, formerly of Mattoon, passed away 30 Nov 2010 at Gowin Parc. Funeral services will be 2 Dec burial will follow in the Roselawn Cemetery in Charleston.
Marion was born 9 Oct 1918 in Crookston, MN the daughter of Myron & Harriet (VanDeWeerd) Babbs. She married W. Thomas 'Tom' Reed on 8 Apr 1938. He passed away on 18 Apr 1993. She was also preceded in death by her son, Thomas Michael; brothers, Charles & Robert Babbs; son-in-law, Ken Sparks.
Survivors include her daughters, Jodi Sparks of Mattoon, Sharon (Russell) Marvel of Effingham; 2 brothers, John Babbs of McClean & Ralph(Arlene)Babbs of Westfield; 6 grandchildren, Kelly (Doug) McDevitt of Effingham, James Plotts of Dallas, TX, Kelly (James) Goetz of Plattsmouth, NE, Todd (Marsha) Marvel of Springfield & Jeanne & Kim Marvel of Alpharetta, GA; 11 great grandchildren, Meagan McDevitt, Alec Sparks, Jarrett Marvel, Kara Marvel, Jamie Goetz, Jake Goetz, Katie Goetz, Jason Goetz, Jackson Marvel, Jane Marvel & Noelle Morse.
WESTFIELD -- Ralph Eugene Babbs, 93, of Westfield, IL passed away at 5:15 pm on Thursday, August 6, 2015 at Casey Health Care Center, Casey, IL. He was born August 11, 1922 in Crookston, MN, the son of Myron David Babbs and Harriet Alice Vandewier Babbs.
On January 21, 1944, he married Myrna Arlene Brown in Martinsville, IL.
Survivors include his loving wife of 71 years, Arlene Babbs of Westfield, IL; daughters, Sue (Don) Cunningham of Martinsville, IL; Jacque (Bob) Wiebe of Shady Shores, TX; Candi (Mike) Brown Centerville, GA; son, Kent (Tami) Babbs of Westfield, IL; brother, John Babbs of Newport News, VA; eight grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and many nephews and nieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Robert Babbs, Charles Babbs, sister, Marion Reed and granddaughter, Kim Cunningham.
Ralph attended school in Ashmore, IL where he enjoyed playing basketball. He was a 1941 graduate of Charleston High School. He worked his entire life in the oilfields in the Westfield, IL area. Ralph was over a sixty year member of the Westfield United Methodist Church. He was a devoted family man. He spent all his time enjoying his family and attending all the activities his children and grandchildren were involved in.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 am on Monday, August 10, 2015 at the Westfield United Methodist Church with Rev. Ray Finney and Rev. Walter Miller officiating. Burial will follow in the Maple Hill Cemetery, Westfield, IL. Visitation will be held from 10 to 11 am prior to the service at the Westfield United Methodist Church, 225 S. Madison St., Westfield, IL. Memorial donations may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148 or the Alzheimer’s Association, 207 S. Prospect Rd., Bloomington, IL 61704.
Myrna Arlene Babbs, age 96, of Westfield, IL passed away at 5:48 p.m. on Tuesday, June
7, 2022 at Casey Health Care Center, Casey, IL.
She was born August 26, 1925 in Kansas, IL the daughter of Arlie Brown and Gladys Kerans
Brown.
On January 21, 1944, she married Ralph Eugene Babbs in Martinsville, IL; he passed away on August 6, 2015.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brothers, Arlie Brown, Walter Brown, Robert Brown and granddaughter, Kim Cunningham.
Arlene was a 1943 graduate of Kansas High School. She was a devoted and caring mother for her children. She later worked for D&W Grocery in the meat department and as a lunch room lady for Casey Westfield schools. In their younger years Arlene and Ralph enjoyed playing softball with the Westfield Softball League. Arlene was a faithful member of the Westfield United Methodist Church where she led Bible school. She also volunteered at the Westfield Library for many years. Arlene loved spending time with her family and attending all the activities her children and grandchildren were involved in.
Graveside services and burial will be conducted 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 11, 2022 at Maple Hill Cemetery, Westfield, IL with Pastor Wade Stine officiating.
