Les grew up in California and served in the U.S. Air Force where he worked as an airframe repairman. He met his wife, Judy, while serving at Homestead Air Force Base in Florida. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Mesa Arizona Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Les and Judy lived in several states during their life together including Arizona, California and Utah. He spent many years working as a long-haul truck driver, a job he greatly enjoyed. He also enjoyed writing about the experiences he had on the road. He had a lifelong interest in classic cars and airplanes.
Les became a member of LDS Church in 1960 and served in many church capacities. One of his favorite callings was serving at the Bishops’ Storehouse in Mesa, Arizona, with his wife where they spent many years helping people in need obtain food and other necessities.
Les enjoyed music. He was a guitarist and a vocalist and played the organ. He also enjoyed playing Canasta and Scrabble. Les loved his family as well as serving others.
Les is survived by his wife, Judith Ball Babbitt; five children: Kenneth (Joyce) Babbitt, of Tucson, Arizona; Raymond (Christi) Babbitt, of Mapleton, Utah; Joel (Kristen) Babbitt, currently stationed at U.S. Army barracks in Carlisle, Pennsylvania; Jill (Dave) Ekstein, of Salt Lake City, Utah; and Joanna (Paul) Mashler of Algona, Washington; 13 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Donald Meyers Babbitt and Elizabeth Branstead Babbitt.
Funeral services will be on March 31, 2018, at 3:30 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel located at 825 S. 32nd Street, Mesa, Arizona. He will be laid to rest at National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona at a later date. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MelcherChapelofRoses.com. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the LDS Church’s Humanitarian Aid fund at www.ldsphilanthropies.org.
