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William Fitch Obituary
September 4, 1943 - November 1, 2022
Columbia, South Carolina - The Reverend William Babcock Fitch (Chaplain USN, Ret.) died on All Saints' Day, November 1st, 2022, in Columbia, SC. Born September 4th, 1943, to Augustus Fitch, Jr., and Vida Babcock Fitch in Charlotte, NC. Babcock served people throughout his life as an active duty chaplain, parish minister, and mission priest in the Episcopal Church.
Babcock is survived by his wife of 54 years, Margaret Clarkson Fitch; his son, Simeon Hyde Kirsch Fitch (Alice Shell Fitch); his daughter, Anna Fitch Courie (Lieutenant Colonel Albert G. "Treb" Courie III, USA); his grandchildren: Margaret Shell Fitch, Rebecca Cushing Fitch, Patton Drawdy Courie, and Merryn Babcock Courie; his brother, Colonel Augustus Fitch III (USMC, Ret.) (Margaret Anderson Fitch) and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held 1:00 PM on November 9th, 2022, at St. Martin's-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church, where he was raised, married, and ordained. A reception follows in the parish hall.
Babcock was known for his beautiful smile, boisterous laugh, and love of all things intellectual, philosophical, and theological. The family asks that the best way to remember Babcock is to serve others. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Episcopal Relief and Development; Harvest Hope Food Bank; or the Free Medical Clinic of Columbia.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for William Fitch
6 Entries
Helen Spalding
January 30, 2025
I enjoyed our many conversations at the Chapel by the Sea in Newport. You were always true to the Lordship of Christ Jesus. Enjoy your reward at His banquet.
Marnie Price
November 9, 2022
Margaret and Family,
Whenever I think of Babcock, I hear his wonderful laugh!! How lucky we all were to have shared our lives with him. Greg and our send our deepest love to all of you.
Marnie
Miles Gardner
November 9, 2022
I am saddened to learn of Babcock's passing. I remember when he and six others were ordained as deacons at Trinity in 1969.
Herman Wood
November 8, 2022
We are so sorry! Our thoughts are with all of your family!
Cary DuPre Lafaye
November 5, 2022
I remember Babcock very fondly from our time at A. C. Flora. He was a good friend and always had a smile. I pray for God's peace for Babcock and for all who loved him.
Al Montgomery
November 4, 2022
Babcock was known to me via school (Dreher and Flora) and The Boy Scouts. He was a unique and memorable individual. I don't think I ever saw him without a smile. The last time I saw him was when Margaret brought him to my Dreher 50th reunion of '62.
Many who knew him talked to him a bit but due to the severe stroke he suffered many years prior it was awkward and sorrowful to all of us as we could not know if he knew we were there or not. I cannot imagine the pain and loving sorrow his wife and family experienced when his ability to interact with all those many who loved him was stripped away by the stroke!
I applaud his wife for bringing him to our reunion and for the love and care she has had for him all these years. Babcock was not an alumnus of Dreher but his circle of friends was so wide ranging and deep that we were glad he attended the reunion.
Babcock was one of those rare souls that not only did I never hear anything bad said about him but everyone who knew him always had only good to say.
Babcock will be missed.
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