He was married to his beloved wife, Shirley for 32 years. Between them Bob and Shirley had six children. A son, Grant (Dana) Babbs of Oklahoma City, OK; three grandchildren, Ryan, Carter and Breck. A daughter, Patricia K.(Kellie) Murray of Frederick, MD; four granddaughters, Cheyanne, Autumn, Winter and Summer. A son, Robert Lee Babbs Jr. predeseased him. A daughter, , Linda (Lee) Goebelt and grandson, John Stephen Campbell. A son, James (Dora) Selbe of Warren, OH and two grandchildren, James and Jennifer and four great granddaughters, Breauna, Lauren, Lillian and Annabelle.
A sister, Mary Katherine Bush also predeseased him in January, 2007, leaving children, Don, Karen and Linda and many grandchildren in florida, Michigan and Texas.
Bob graduated High School in Chicago, IL and served in the U.S. Navy in 1944 through 1946. He was an Electrician's Mate on the USS Curier Destroyer Escort in the Pacific Theatre. After discharge from the Navy Bob went to Panama, where his parents were living and working for the government during WWII.
Bob was a self-made man and wore many hats in his professional life. He was a Lock Guard on the Panama Canal, a Canal Zone Police Officer, a restaurant owner, a fireman in Battle Creek, MI and finally was a Dealer for the Clark Equipment Company in Oklahoma City until his retirement in 1982, when he and shirley moved to Florida.
Bob and shirley also owned and operated The Travel Store in Bonita Springs and House of Travel in Naples and cruised the seven seas with family, friends and their clients.
Being avid golfers, Bob and Shirley have resided in Spanish Wells CC in Bonita Springs and then Wildcat Run CC in Estero, were members of the Miromar Lakes CC and finally residing in Westminster Golf Club.
He will be sorely missed by his family and friends. He was outgoing and gregarious and always had a "big" laugh that was contagious to everyone around him. Services are pending. The family kindly accepts any donations to the Robert Lee Babbs Memorial Funding to be sent out to Hodges Funeral Home or forwarded to Shirley.
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