BABB, John A. (1901-1948)

BABB

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 2/1/2021 at 12:56:50

John Albert Babb
(February 2, 1901 – December 29, 1948)

Battle Creek Times, Battle Creek, Iowa, Thurs., Jan 6, 1949, p.1
Funeral Rites Conducted For John A. Babb
Funeral services for John A. Babb, 47, editor of the Battle Creek Times, were conducted Saturday afternoon at 2 o’clock in the Presbyterian Church with Rev. Albert C. J. Kellow officiating. “The Lord’s Prayer” and “Have Thine Own Way, Lord” were sung by Don Goodenow with Mrs. Alvin Iverson furnishing the music at the organ. Pallbearers were Justin Gailey, Dr. H. H. Harris, Ray Goodenow, John Mickelsen, Elmer Rickman and Earl Mickelson. Burial was in Mount Hope Cemetery under the direction of the Christensen Funeral Home. The Masonic service was read by Viggo M. Brock, past master of Perserverance lodge at Battle Creek. Masonic honors were accorded at the grave. In charge of the flowers were Mrs. Russell Goodenow, Mrs. Elmer Rickman, Mrs. J. A. Warnock and Mrs. Floyd McLain.
John Albert Babb, son of George and Estella Babb, was born at Wakonda, S. Dak., February 2, 1901. Upon graduation from high school in 1919 he spent three years in newspaper work under L. W. Ford on the Wakonda Monitor. He attended Iowa State College at Ames and the University of South Dakota at Vermillion. He was graduated from the university in 1927, going to Columbus, Ohio immediately to work for the Associated Press where he was on general assignments and the statehouse beat. He married Hazel I. Howard of Lawton, Iowa July 28, 1928. He was transferred to Cincinnati, Ohio September 1, 1928, serving as night manager of the Cincinnati bureau of the Associated Press four years. He was night editor of the Toledo (Ohio) Blade four years, going to Sioux City as assistant city editor of the Tribune, June 9, 1936, and on November 1, of the same year, becoming city editor. Mr. Babb left Sioux City in August, 1939, purchasing the Mount Vernon (S. Dak.) News, which he published twenty months. In 1941, he bought the Battle Creek Times. His first publication here was the April 3 issue in that year. During the war he served as postmaster my military appointment. John was active in civic affairs in this neighborhood. He was secretary in the Lions club several years, a member of the school board, had been president and secretary of the Farm and Town club, helped organize the Conn Belt baseball league, serving as its secretary, and recently had been appointed town clerk. His illness prevented him from holding this office more than a month or two. John was a member of the Presbyterian Church. He had completed two terms as elder at the time of his death. During the war he tried to send the Times to every person absent in the military service. Many wrote their appreciation of the weekly letter from home.