Babcock, Richard F. 1917-2003

BABCOCK, MCCRORY, PRATT

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/13/2007 at 15:21:48

MOVILLE, Iowa -- Richard Franklin Babcock, 85, of Moville died Sunday, June 22, 2003, in Kingsley, Iowa.

Services will be 11 a.m. today at Moville United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Harold E. Werley officiating. Burial will be in Kingsley Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Christy-Smith McCulloch Chapel in Moville.

Mr. Babcock was born Nov. 10, 1917, in Rush, Colo., the son of Benjamin and Evalena (McCrory) Babcock. He moved to Moville at the age of 2 and graduated from Moville Community High School in 1935. He worked at the Moville Post Office prior to entering the U.S. Army. He served during World War II from 1941 to 1946.

He married Grace Pratt on Sept. 28, 1942, in Murray, Ky. After returning home from the war, he went back to work at the post office and became postmaster in 1949, serving until 1976. Upon retiring from the post office, he started in real estate, eventually starting his own agency, "Babcock Realty" in Moville. He retired from the real estate business in 1998.

He was a member of Moville United Methodist Church, where he served as a former Sunday school superintendent and church board member of Evangelical United Brethren Church in Moville. He also served on the Moville Community School Board, and as a former commander and chaplain of American Legion Wink-Sparks Post 303 of Moville. He was a former president, secretary and treasurer of the Iowa Chapter of the National Association of Postmasters. He enjoyed traveling.

Survivors include his wife, Grace Babcock of Moville; his children, Kathleen and her husband, Roger Anderson of Sioux City, Dr. James Babcock and his wife, Helen of San Bernardino, Calif., and Kevin Babcock of Des Moines; a brother and his wife, Dr. George C. and Julie Babcock of Englewood, Colo.; three sisters, Maryanna Harvey of Durango, Colo., Wilma and her husband, Cecil Crabb of Kingsley, and Harriet Coker of Lawton, Iowa; two sisters-in-law, Maurine Babcock of Sibley, Iowa, and Hilma Artz of Cherokee, Iowa; a brother-in-law and his wife, Ben and Ruth Pratt of Kingsley; seven grandchildren, Diana Anderson of Sioux City, Heath Babcock and his wife, Kelly of Las Vegas, Nev., and Megan, Michelle, Josie, Harry and Jacob Babcock, all of San Bernardino, Calif.; two great-grandchildren, Kelli and Alyssa; and a special cousin, Ethel James of Lubbock, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Willard and Wayne Babcock; and three brothers-in-law, Alan Harvey, George Coker and Ralph Artz.

Pallbearers will be Jack Miles, Rene Goodwin, Jerry Herbold, Benny Malm, Brad Nixon and Derl Petersen.

[Part of the Darrell Easton Obituary Collection; source: Sioux City Journal]