Danny (Edward Daniel) Babcock

When Danny was young, his family built a home in Forest Park on a dead-end street. Living just a few houses away, in the last house before the dead end, was the family of Patricia Gail Whitten. The two became Grade-school friends and high-school sweethearts. Patricia says she had no other choice but to date and marry Danny. He had her trapped. Though she tried to escape when he went off to the Oklahoma Military Academy in Claremore, he kept close tabs on her goings and comings while she was attending Northeast High School in OKC. This set the precedent for what would be a lifelong monitoring of her behavior and a deep-rooted friendship that stood the test of time.

After graduating from their different high schools in 1963, Danny and Patricia began higher education with Danny still at OMA and Patricia at OU. Rather than finishing college separately, they chose to begin their life together and were married at Kelley Avenue Christian Church, Oklahoma City, in November of 1965. Having begun life together on the same street, they decided to find comfort in each other's company for the rest of the journey. Their first place of residence was a small apartment close to Mercy Hospital.

From this cozy home, Patricia could take the bus to her job as the teller trainer at a bank in downtown Oklahoma City. Danny tried his hand as an optical lab technician in a local shop. Later he went to work for his dad in the family business which was Babcock Mobile Home and Repair in downtown OKC just off Reno. It was then that he decided to pursue further education from a tech school in the field of heating and air conditioning. The skills he acquired led to employment with everyone’s favorite, Braum’s Ice Cream & Dairy Store. This occupation kept Danny busy attending to the needed repairs and maintenance for stores throughout Oklahoma and even neighboring states. Danny’s handyman skillset and his willingness to help others was not only an asset for Braum’s, but also a wonderful benefit to his family, his church, and anyone else who might call.

Now living in their home on 25th Street in Spencer and with a few years of hard work under their belts, Danny and Patricia were now ready to begin the harder work of parenthood. In 1969, Greg was born. Brian came along in 1972. Life with their two boys was wonderful. The young family enjoyed a variety of outdoor activities from gardening to go-carts, from camping in their Mobile Scout to boating on the many lakes of Oklahoma, from tinkering with Corvairs to crafting all-out Christmas displays. As time passed, Danny expanded on his tinkering tendencies always seeing the diamond in the rough. He ventured so far as to start his own business, Babcock Refrigeration, and trained his boys as his first employees, paying them extra to do the parts of the jobs he preferred not to do himself. He shared his work and hobbies with his boys who were often right by his side, or at least within earshot, learning and “go-for-ing” their way into becoming successful handymen like their dad. We should add, he also shared with them his orneriness. Making a point to be at sporting events for his sons during his chaotic work schedule, Danny was often the loudest cheerleader in the stands, helping the referees remember the rules of the game. Time with relatives and friends was special to him.

Life moved along, the boys started families of their own, and Danny and Patricia were right there to help in any way needed. Danny thoroughly enjoyed all his grandchildren and loved to aggravate them with tickles and teasing, always having the signature twinkle in his eye to reassure them that he didn’t mean all his threats (for further reference, see the Webster’s definition for hogtying). Grandpa made a big difference.

In pursuance of a lifelong dream, Danny and Patricia said goodbye to city life and purchased a home close to the shores of Lake Texoma in the early 2000s. Patricia recalls a story of their two-car caravan moving through a Highway Patrol checkpoint on their way to the lake. As Patricia unrolled her window to the officer, he informed her, “Ma’am, the man in front of you said you are bothering him.”

Only one on a lifelong list of tricks and shenanigans, this event makes us laugh and appreciate Danny’s desire to bring joy and fun to everyone, especially his wife. In fact, it is likely that when Patricia arrives at the gates of heaven, Danny will have left the same message with whoever greets her.

Patricia took a position teaching second grade at Kingston Elementary school. To stay close to her and to keep himself busy, Danny also took employment with Kingston Public Schools within the maintenance department and drove a bus when needed, which was often. Danny always owned and enjoyed secondhand motorcycles, but in 2012, he finally decided to buy the new Can Am Spyder. Following the purchase, he and Patricia took many road trips and weekend getaways visiting their children and grandchildren and seeing the sights of Oklahoma.

Having lived a life full of adventure and sight-seeing and having traveled earth’s roads and waters, nothing compares to his walks with our Savior on Heaven’s streets of gold and his view of “the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.” (Rev. 22:1)

Danny passed away on January 22nd, 2022 at his home in Kingston, Oklahoma. Danny is survived by his wife, Patricia Babcock (Whitten); his Sons, Greg Babcock, Brian Babcock, and wife Rachel; Grandchildren, Benjamin (and wife Katie), Caden, Ellie, Kenlyn, and Katelyn; Sisters, Mary Dyer and Deborah Davis; Brother, James. Danny was proceeded in death by his parents, Edward Babcock and Sylvia Babcock (Holland).