Ross Eugene Babcock

92 years old, of Phoenix, Arizona, passed away on Thursday, May 24, 2012, at home in Phoenix. He was born in Clovis, New Mexico, on April 11, 1920, moving with his parents and siblings to Phoenix in the following year. They traveled to Phoenix by horse drawn wagon. Mr. Babcock is one of eight children of the late Elkanah Andrew Babcock and his wife Mary Angie Read Babcock. He is survived by his wife of 74 years, Wilma Taylor Smith Babcock, and their five children: Carol Ann Babcock Jensen Scoffin of Encinitas, CA, and Tucson; Clara Louise Babcock Davis Cawthorne of Sandy, Utah; Ross Eugene Babcock, Jr. of Phoenix; Wilma Jean Babcock Breutzman of Grand Haven, MI; and Karen Sue Babcock McDougall of Waxhaw, NC. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild. Mr. Babcock retired from the City of Phoenix civil engineering department, where he was head of surveyors, then Special Projects Engineer. In that capacity he was responsible for designing the roads up to the top of both South Mountain and North Mountain. He also engineered the designs for Granada Park, Cortez Park and several other city parks. Early on Mr. Babcock was the developer of Kid Stuff brand wooden toys and accessories, and he had a remodeling business with his brother Horace. Over most of his adult life, he was a builder of houses, apartments, Palo Verde Centre I shopping center, and Palo Verde Animal Hospital in Phoenix and was a landlord to all of those properties. He was known for his long term participation in Camelback Mountain Lions Club, where he held all of the offices except secretary, from Lion Tamer to President, as well having been President of the Sight and Hearing Foundation for Multiple District 21. He was a member of Circle Cee Toastmasters Club for over 20 years. Through Junior Achievement's Project Business, Mr. Babcock taught 8th graders how business works. As a boy, he was a founding member of Boy Scout Troop 8 at First Baptist Church of Phoenix, and he was Scoutmaster for the same troop years later when his son joined the troop. Mr. Babcock attended Capitol School, Adams (Grace Court) School, and Phoenix Union High School, as well as Phoenix College. During WWII Mr. Babcock worked as a Ship Fitter First Class at Mare Island Navy Yard in Vallejo, CA, and then joined the Navy, where he did the same job at the San Diego Naval Repair Base. He received an honorable discharge in October, 1945. He had a great love for the outdoors, for hunting, camping, and picnicking; and with his family, he built a cabin at Lakeside, AZ. He and his wife also enjoyed square dancing for many years. Ross is remembered by his family as a loving and dedicated husband and father. He was a very hardworking and honorable man, a great teacher, and a helper of many people in need. Interment is at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona with a family graveside service. A Memorial Celebration Service for friends and family will be held on Thursday, May 31, 2012, 5:00 p.m., at Church of the Epiphany at 8433 N. 12th Street, Phoenix, Arizona. Pall bearers are Ross E. Babcock, Jr., J.M. Scoffin, Hugh Cawthorne, Mark Breutzman, Sr., Charles E. McDougall, and Carmine Michael Salvatore. Memorial contributions can be made to the Church of the Epiphany Building Fund or to the Lions Club Sight and Hearing Foundation at 3427 North 32nd Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85018, 602-954-1723.