Elaine Edna Babcock

Elaine gallantly fought a chronic neurological illness since 2004. By 2008, she was neither able to speak nor swallow. In spite of extensive physical therapy, mobility of her extremities diminished to the point that eventually eliminated her ability to walk. Elaine then lost her ability to communicate either orally or through the written word with her family and many friends.

Elaine received daily excellent professional healthcare at home from her private nurse Eureka W., and two other nurse-caregivers over the past 3 years. In spite of her difficulties, Elaine retained her sense of humor and tried very hard to do whatever was asked of her. Elaine was an excellent patient throughout her ordeal. She enjoyed and very much appreciated receiving the many cards, letters, calls, flowers and visits from her family and many friends.

Elaine was born on July 13, 1927 in St. Albans, New York to Harold and Myrtle Boyer. A few years later the family returned to their home state of Massachusetts, settling in West Springfield. In addition to Elaine, the Boyer children included Muriel, her older sister; and Madeline Jeanne (Jean), her younger sister.

Elaine was active, popular and very competitive, both as an individual and as a student. Elaine was a cheerleader in high school and a very proficient roller skater and ice skater as well. Her roller skating skills were such that she and her male dance partner performed in the former Boston Gardens during exhibitions in the early 1940’s. She graduated as an Honor Student from West Springfield High School in 1945 where she made many lifelong friends. Elaine attended every class reunion she possibly could.

Elaine met her husband, Allen on a blind date in January 1952. After a three year courtship, on October 08, 1955, Allen and Elaine were married. Elaine and Allen have three children Linda, David and Karen.

Linda graduated from Chattahoochee Technical College in Marietta, GA where she currently resides. Scott McCombe, her eldest son, resides in Leicester, NC. Sadly, her youngest son, Douglas McCombe, passed away in 2004.

After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1978, David became a Navy flyer, and retired as a Commander after 23 years service. He and his wife, Patty live in Gulf Breeze, FL and have two sons: Joseph and Thomas. Joseph and his wife Leah have a son, Mason Riley Babcock, (Elaine’s first great-grand child).

Karen, their youngest daughter, graduated from Auburn University with a B.S. degree in nursing, worked as a Neonatal RN, and married her college sweetheart Michael Halenkamp M.D. They live in Monument, CO and have four children: Matthew, Morgan, Sean, and Celeste.

In 1974, IBM relocated the Allen Babcock family to Atlanta, GA. Currently, they reside in the Indian Hills subdivision in Marietta, GA. Elaine always felt that living in Indian Hills provided a refreshing and peaceful home environment for raising her family.

Elaine enjoyed meeting people and with her natural outgoing and friendly manner, earned her many new friends, especially her best friends: Marie Ward and Nancy Shields. Caring for her family, visiting her children and grandchildren were Elaine’s key focus. However, being very outgoing, she also played tennis and bowled on competitive teams.

Elaine was also very active by participating in many community and volunteer work opportunities. In 1985, when her daughter Karen was a member of the Walton High School Band, The Band Parents’ Group awarded Elaine a “Distinguished Service Award” for her associated volunteer activities for the band.

Upon Allen’s retirement in 1989, their newfound freedom presented opportunities for travel, especially to see their children and their families in Florida and Colorado. From 1991 until 2004, they would periodically visit their Vero Beach, FL home. It proved to be a very refreshing periodic change in life style where they made several life long friends and enjoyed the many activities within the community, the ocean beaches close by and wonderful restaurants along the seashore.

In retirement, Elaine and Allen visited London and toured England and Ireland for 3 weeks, staying at farmhouses and dining in Pubs. They also visited Beijing, China and toured the US West Coast including Yellowstone Park. They enjoyed cruises to the Bahamas, Alaska, from Copenhagen, cruised to all the Baltic Sea Countries, and made several trips to the Hawaiian Islands, as well as one to Bermuda. In celebration of their 50th Wedding Anniversary, they flew to Las Vegas, toured the Grand Canyon and Brice Canyon, and spent several days in Las Vegas.

Nonetheless, for over ten years Elaine and Allen’s favorite vacations occurred when very good friends, Fred and Alyce Sliwa, invited them to their lake cottage in Goshen, MA. The location’s beauty and serenity were uplifting and the companionship outstanding. During their stay, the group frequently made trips to points of interest throughout the New England states. However, 2007 proved to be Elaine’s last trip to Goshen due to the progression of her illness.

Preceding Elaine in death were her father, Harold Boyer; mother, Myrtle Boyer; sister Muriel Minor; grandson Douglas McCombe; nephew Robert Minor; and niece Sandra Minor.

Surviving are Elaine’s husband Allen; sister Madeline Jeanne (Jean) Colburn of West Springfield, MA; son, David Babcock and daughter in-law, Patty Babcock of Gulf Breeze, FL; daughters, Linda McCombe, of Marietta, GA and Karen Halenkamp; son in-law, Michael Halenkamp of Monument CO; grandsons Scott McCombe, Matthew Halenkamp, Sean Halenkamp, Thomas Babcock, Joseph Babcock, his wife Leah and great- grandson, Mason Riley Babcock; granddaughters Morgan Halenkamp and Celeste Halenkamp; nephews, James Colburn, William Colburn, Wayne Minor; and niece Cindy Masse.

Family and friends are invited to her memorial service which will be held on Saturday, October 19th, at 2 p.m. in the chapel at H.M. Patterson & Son Canton Hill Chapel. In lieu of flowers the family is kindly requesting donations be made in Elaine’s name to the ALS Hope Foundation, 1333 Race St. Philadelphia, PA 19107. Condolences may be expressed at www.hmpattersoncantonhill.com