Mel has been my brother inlaw for all of my adult life.  From the moment I met him, till now, he was one of the nicest, most genuine and loving man I know.

Talking to me about life, when I was a goofy teenager,  to difficult times edured in my life, Mel aways had a gentle heart and a caring demeanor.

I remember the day I first went with him to the National Guard airbase, when he was in uniform.  Everyone was his friend.  The Colonel walked and greeted Mel not as a subordinate, but as a peer.  That memory always stuck with me.

Though our journies seldom took us down the same path in life, I will always  look at him as one of the good guys.

My Dad

What can I say about my dad.  For the past 15 years, he has been my friend as well as my dad.  He’s been a good husband, son, brother, and most important to me, he’s been a great Papa, as my children have always called him.  My dad and I had our issues as daughters and fathers do, but anything that I had ever been angry about was forever mended, when I watched, Michael, watch his papa walk into a room.  Michael light up like a Christmas tree any time his papa came into view.  My dad had the most beautiful relationship with his grandchildren.  All 3 of them.  Matthew and Lucas have spent every weekend with them since they were born and that time with their grandparents was so important to them, and boys I hope that you always remember how important you were to papa, and I want you to also remember that he will always be with you.  We will forever keep Dad in our hearts.

My dad served his country, was in Korea in the Army, then joined the Airforce.  I have always been so proud of his service.  He never talked much about it, except to talk about being in different parts of the country.

My dad had 6 children Dan, Linda, Cindy, Melvin Jay, Aaron, and myself.  We have become a family that sticks together, both of my parents have taught me that there is nothing that a family can not survive, as long as we all stick together.  I remember when Michael died, we were all beside ourselves, not knowing what to do now.  And I know that for both of my parents it was hard, not just saying goodbye to Michael, but also knowing that their daughter, was hurting so much and there was nothing they could do to fix that.  So dad and I hung out together, we’d go to the cemetery, sometimes more than once a day, we’d go and have breakfast.  It was my dad that helped me empty Michael’s room.  He was always so strong, and I know that he is now strong again.

My dad loved chatting it up with people, whether it was a neighbor like Marvin, or his friend Don who always did their taxes, one of my friends that he would run into at Fred Meyer (his favorite place, I swear), or when he worked at my shop for me, he loved chatting with the owners of the dogs as they would pick up and drop off their dogs.  Dogs were another love of my dads.  Scrappy and Maggie, their two dogs could almost always be found on either side of his lap.  Poor Scrappy is still waiting for Papa to come home and it’s been 3 weeks.

I hope that many of you will post stories about my Dad.  I would really like to read them.

Rest well, Dad.  I love you, and I miss you.

-Desiree Engel

Celebration of Life

Caldwell's, Hennessey, Goetsch & McGee Funeral Home

Melvin Babb

immediate need

Death has occurred or is near

plan ahead

Pre-plan a funeral or cremation

Plan a Funeral or Cremation Default Desktop

Find Obituaries and Services

Send Flowers

sympathy and etiquette

grief library

celebrations of life

What to Say When Someone Dies

Show Your Support

Sympathy and Grief

obituary

services

memories

Obit Detail

In the care of

share to facebook

share by email

share link

Share Obituary

ideas and resources

Sympathy and Grief Mobile

OBITUARY

Melvin Mel Earl Babb

February 28, 1933 – March 16, 2010

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services