Obituary of Helen Babcock

Helen Marie Babcock Olean, NY Helen Marie Babcock of 438 Fourth Avenue passed away Tuesday (March 4, 2014) at the Olean General Hospital after a long illness. Born May 19, 1928 in Salamanca she was the daughter of Adolph and Pauline Ahrens. On June 12, 1950 in Salamanca she married Walter M. Babcock who predeceased her July 6, 2004. Mrs. Babcock was a 1945 graduate of Salamanca High School and enjoyed raising a family and living a full life with her family and friends. She was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church of Olean where she taught Sunday School for several years for children of all ages and where she later led Bible Study groups. She also held other church related offices including past president of the American Baptist Convention of New York State and was a board member of the New York State American Baptist Women. She served as the first chairperson in this area of the Fresh Air Fund for many years and earlier was a Blue Bird and Campfire Girls Leader as well as a den leader for the Cub Scouts. She enjoyed hobbies such as crafts, sewing, needlework and stained glass making and had a very large, treasured collection of angel statues and figurines which she had received from loving family and friends over the years. She always enjoyed camping and also traveling places with her husband and in more recent years with her sister Rita. Surviving are a son Steven Babcock of Olean; a daughter Paula (Daniel) Mohr of Allegany; 2 sisters Clara Wagner and Rita Wymer, both of Salamanca; a sister-in-law Barbara Ahrens of Sun City, AZ and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband she was predeceased by 2 brothers Adolph Ahrens and Frederick Ahrens; 1 sister Wilma Choo and 3 brothers-in-law Edward Wagner, Francis Wymer and John Babcock. Friends are invited to attend a memorial service to be held Saturday (March 8, 2014) at 1:00pm at the First Baptist Church of Olean. A reception will follow the service. Burial will be next to her husband in Green Cemetery in Great Valley. Arrangements are under the direction of the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home, Olean. Online condolences may be expressed at oleanfuneralhome.com.