John F. "Jack" BABCOCK

1932 - 2017

BABCOCK,
John F. "Jack"

Passed away on May 28, 2017 following heart complications. Born in Spokane, Washington on March 25, 1932 to John Henry Foster Babcock and Elsie Hope Babcock, Jack spent most of his life in the Spokane area with brief periods living away in West Covina, California, Seattle, WA, and Anchorage, Alaska.
Jack attended Lewis and Clark High School, graduated from Whitworth College, and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. Jack was married to Catharine Dullanty from 1959 - 1977 and raised seven children (John Babcock, David Babcock, Christopher Babcock, Patrick Babcock, Amy Chamberlin, Paul Babcock, and Matthew Babcock) and eventually became grandfather to his 12 grandchildren (Christopher Chamberlin, Michael Chamberlin, Mary Cate Babcock, Eileen Babcock, Brigid Babcock, Billy Babcock, August Babcock, Alice Babcock, Isabella Babcock, Ava Babcock, John(Jack) Babcock, and Andrew Babcock).
Jack spent most of his working life in waterworks supply, including positions with Palmer Supply in Western Washington and Grinnell in Spokane before opening and operating Material Distributors from 1976-1989 in partnership with Mike Day and Dave Mathers with branches in Washington, Idaho, and Alaska. Jack retired to Nordman, ID in 1999 where he enjoyed an outdoorsman's lifestyle and later moved to Newport, WA.
Jack will be remembered as a man who cherished time with his family and friends. He possessed the distinct ability to show his children unconditional love as he truly felt they hung the stars and moon. Always an engaging personality, he was a master story-teller with a contagious and booming laugh who had the ability to relate to people from all backgrounds through his vast life experiences and stories. Always willing to give an honest opinion, Jack lived life on his own terms while making time to lend a hand to friends in need.
Jack loved spending time in the outdoors and welcomed any activity that allowed him access to Mother Nature including fishing, hiking, snowshoeing, hunting, snowmobiling, and boating. Always welcoming adventure, Jack fished and hunted throughout the Pacific Northwest and made multiple treks to Alaska by way of the Alaska-Canadian Highway.
Jack is preceded in death by his mother and father, his sister (Sandra Strong), brother-in-law (Dick Strong), his son Christopher, and his infant son David. He is survived by his stepmother (Dorothy Babcock), former wife (Catharine Babcock), five children, four daughters-in-law (Aida Babcock, Mary Beth Babcock, Angela Babcock, and Amy Babcock), son-in-law (Robert Wright), twelve grandchildren, two nieces (Stephanie Smith-Latham and Leslie Moore), and many dear friends. A celebration of Jack's life will be held on July 29th.