Babcock was born March 6, 1921 at Chanute, the son of Roy Babcock and Hester Buscher Babcock. He attended Chanute schools, graduating from Chanute High School in 1939. He attended Neosho County Community College and graduated in 1942. After his schooling he volunteered in the United States Army and served in the European Theatre of Operations. He served with the 332nd Engineer Battalion. He fought during five major battles in Europe before his discharge in October of 1945 with a rank of Sergeant Mechanic Foreman. During his service he was honored with a Certificate of Merit for his engineering accomplishments. He was also awarded a Rifle Sharpshooting Medal, a Marksman Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal.
Following his service he returned to Chanute. He and his father owned and operated Babcock Motors and operated the Jeep Agency. He operated Babcock Motors for 35 years. Warren taught Auto Mechanics for Neosho Community College for two years. He then worked as chief mechanic for school busing at Unified School District 413 for 23 years. He then did volunteer work driver for RSVP for two years. He then worked for Kansas Service for the Blind as recorder and driver.
He was a former of member of Grant Avenue Baptist where he taught Sunday School for 35 years, a member of the First Baptist Church, a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, was instrumental in the founding of Little League Program in Chanute, he was secretary and treasurer of Boy Scout Troups in Chanute and volunteered at Cherry Street.
He was an avid bowler and fisherman.
On August 25, 1946 at Chanute, he was united in marriage to Willa Floy Clemans. She survives, of the home.
Additional survivors include two sons, Rex Babcock and his wife, Jennifer, Chanute, and Jim Babcock and his wife, Pam, Kansas City, Mo.; a daughter Lynette Wescott and her husband, Rod, Arcadia; two grandchildren, Ben and Kate Babcock, Minneapolis, Minn.; two great-grandchildren, Leah Wescott and Kyle Wescott, Arcadia; several stepgrandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Vivian Henderson, and a daughter, Leah Knetzer Babcock.
Funeral will be 11 a.m. Thursday, April 7 at the First Baptist Church. Interment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of the Penwell-Gabel Johnson Chapel of Chanute. Friends may call at the Penwell-Gabel Johnson Chapel from 5 to 8 p.m. this evening. Friends may call at the church on Thursday from 10 a.m. until service time.
The family has suggested memorials to the First Baptist Church or Cherry Street. Memorials will be received at the funeral home.
Post a Comment