John R. Babson

John "Jack" R. Babson, 94, of Pittsburgh, formerly of Greenwich, Conn., and Washington D.C., died Friday, May 25, 2012. He was born May 28, 1917, in Yonkers, N.Y., a son of the late George Low and Gladys Ralston Babson. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, George Low Babson Jr.; his first wife, Jane Hebditch; and his second wife, Joan C. (Fuller) Doss. After graduating from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical Eengineering in 1939, he joined the Ingersoll-Rand Company. Following his service during World War II in the Army Ordnance Corps, he became a sales engineer for Ingersoll-Rand, first in Columbus, Ohio and then in Cleveland, Ohio. He served 12 years as the corporate vice president of Ingersoll-Rand with overall responsibility for the operations of the International Group. Later, Mr. Babson was director of Ingersoll-Rand's Washington D.C. office, where he oversaw all government procurement activities. After retiring from Ingersoll-Rand in 1982, he became the president and executive director of the International Eye Foundation. He later served on the board of Global Water which helps save the lives of people in developing countries that are lost due to unclean water. He was an avid ice hockey player and golfer and will be buried with the hockey skates he wore when he was captain of the Cornell Hockey Team. Mr. Babson is survived by his son, John R. Babson Jr. (Corinne Marshall), of Pittsburgh; his daughter, Jan Babson Anderson (David Edward), of Suffield, Conn. He is also survived by his grandchildren, John R. (Abigail) Babson III, of Milton, Mass., Kathryn Marshall Babson Brewer, of Wilmington, N.C., David Edward Anderson Jr., of Austin, Texas, Tyler Babson Anderson, of Steamboat Springs, Colo., John Cameron Anderson, of Dallas, Texas, and William Chapman Anderson, of Austin; and great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Corinne Brewer, Cameron Robert Brewer, Jack Robert Babson and Alexander Olken Babson. In addition, he is survived by Wright Fuller Doss, of Washington D.C., and Sara Doss (Michael) Jones, of Plymouth, Mass., children of Joan Fuller Doss from a previous marriage. Mr. Babson was a member of the Lago Mar Club, Greenwich Country Club and the Chevy Chase Club. Mr. Babson is a member of Cheswick Presbyterian Church, the Burning Tree Club and the Oakmont Yacht Club. Friends will be received from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at WEDDELL-AJAK FUNERAL HOME, 100 Center Ave., Aspinwall. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the Cheswick Presbyterian Church, 1401 Pittsburgh St., Cheswick.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Camp Mishawaka. www.campmishawaka.com.