Lawrence F. Babbitt

Lawrence Fillmore Babbitt


Lawrence Filmore Babbitt, the youngest of four children, born to Lise Marie Brun Babbitt and Robert Bertrum Babbitt, in St. Louis, MO., on September 25, 1931. In his early years, they moved to New Orleans where his love of music began as he walked the streets of the French Quarter, and heared the sounds of Jazz and Blues musicians. When they moved to Clebrune, TX, he met the love of his life, Lucy, while working at a soda fountain and made her a milkshake. It was love at first sight.

Larry joined the US Air Force during the Korean War in 1951 and traveled to Japan, the Philippines and Hong Kong. He had secret clearance working in telecommunications. At one point his division worked out of the radio station where " Tokyo Rose " broadcasted her radio show. On leave for Labor Day, Larry and Lucy married on September 1, 1951, in Clebrune, TX. Larry would serve overseas another four years. After leaving the Air Force, Larry and Lucy settled in Shreveport LA, where there first daughter Debra was born, then moved to Dallas, where Sharon, their second daughter was born. Tragically, seven years later, Larry and Lucy lost their youngest daughter, Laurie Lee who died two days after her birth.

After he left the service, Larry joined Hertz Rent-a-Car, and worked as a manager in their Dallas corporate office. In his free time Larry did charity work for children in Dallas area hospitals. To their delight, entertaining them dressed as "Nobody the Clown," and with puppet shows and lively characters, named Swinging Sam, Cologne the Skunk and Donnie the Dinosaur, created by his beloved Lucy.

In 1968, Hertz transferred Larry with his family to Houston.

One of his young employees, grew into a very special lifelong friendship. Tom McKinney, a budding Opera singer and Broadway performer, his career took him all over the world. Tom never lost contract with his beloved friend Larry and his family. Larry was a lifelong Roman Catholic and member of the Knights of Columbus. Tom grew up as a Southern Baptist yet they both performed for the K of C doing skits and standup comedy routines. Larry always loved being a jokester. They always had a special bond of humor.

Larry started the Knights of Columbus Council at Holy Rosary Church in the 1970's. and raised thousands of dollars for various charities.

When he suffered from bladder cancer in the 1980's, he changed careers and sold life insurance for the Knights of Columbus.

In 2000, Larry fell down a flight of stairs hitting his head which resulted in emergency brain surgery. This accident left him weak on the right side, and his right arm, paralyzed. As he was starting to recover, six weeks later he had a quadruple bypass. With many years of therapy and rehab, Larry was able to walk with the assist of a cane. He also had apraxia and aphasia which made telling jokes extremely difficult. His love, Lucy became his caregiver and joke teller. At every Doctors appointment they always left with a joke. If they didn't the doctors would remind them.

The road to recovery was long, with Lucy, family and friends by his side Larry still enjoyed life and laughter and music. Larry instilled the love of music to his daughters and grandchildren. All the old greats, and Frank Sinatra have lived in our homes and hearts for years.

Thanks to my husband, Andy, sons, Colin and Drew for there never ending support and love for my parents. For their caregivers Lala, Janet and Teresia for the years of care for both my parents.

Larry loved his God, his church, his wife, daughters, and grandchildren and many pets through the years.
After the long bond Lucy and Larry enjoyed it was hard for him to be without his love Lucy. He just wanted to be together again. Today would have been my Mom's 85th birthday. She and my dad brought me as a newborn home from the hospital on her birthday. My 1st son, Colin came home from the hospital on my birthday and now my dad is going to his eternal home on Lucy's Birthday. Love you both so much.

From Lucy's last days, she wrote:
My Dear Husband,
No one can understand or believe how much laughter has saved the day.
Your sense of humor is MAGIC.