BLUE HILL – Bill Babson, 82, died unexpectedly Jan. 18, 2010, at a Bangor hospital, while undergoing heart surgery. He was born Nov. 13, 1927, in Blue Hill, and lived his life there. He was the son of William Charles and Alice (Gross) Babson. Bill was an essential part of the Blue Hill community, everyone who knew him loved him and he unconditionally loved them back. It is unlikely that anyone who met him was not touched by his generosity, spirit and boundless energy. He left George Stevens Academy to join the U.S. Navy in 1945 and was stationed in Newfoundland until the end of World War II. After his marriage to Joan, he worked many jobs to support his family, mostly as a manager for the First National grocery store chain and as a much sought after house painter. In 1999, he received the Halcyon Grange Community Service Award. After retiring – reluctantly – in 2003, he took up beach-combing and taught himself how to make jewelry and other art objects from both his finds on any beach he could get to, and what people brought him from their own forays. He loved his trips to Florida with Wayne Bragdon to stay with his sister, Serita and husband, Bill. The winter of 2009 he almost achieved “snowbird” status by spending seven weeks with Kathy and Arin. He loved and seldom missed his grandson’s ball games and cherished being with family. Bill is survived by his wife, Joan (Bowker) Babson; daughters, Anita Babson-Campbell and husband, Kevin, of Blue Hill, Kathy Babson and partner, Arin Deramo, of Venice, Fla., and Alma Babson Mote and grandsons, Gavin and Eric, of Blue Hill; sister, Sheila Varnum of Blue Hill; special pet, Peaches; brother-in-law, Ben Adams and partner, Bridgetta Altenhofen; nieces, Penny Ricker and husband, Rick Sawyer and family, Linda MacLeod and husband, Dave and family, Karyl Hayes and husband, Rich and family, Lisa Carlson and husband, Steve and family, Terry Grover and family, Denise Webster and family, Lisa Munoz and husband, Jerry and family, and Leighann and partner, Bob Murphy; nephew, Willie Hatt and wife, Rebecca and family; sister-in-law, Sue Carrion Brodowski of Machias and Port St. Lucie, Fla.; and brother-in-law, Butch Hatt of Machias. Bill loved his extended family as much as his own – the list too long to include here. He was predeceased by his parents; sisters, Serita Bowden and husband, Bill, and Norma Ricker and husband, Bill; nephews, Robin Ricker and Benjamin Dodge Adams; brothers-in-law, Alton Varnum and Frank Howard; and pets, Chummy, Prince, Hans and Alfie. An open house will be held 3-5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29, at Bill’s home. Memorial services will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, at First Baptist Church, Blue Hill. A reception will be held after the service at Barncastle. A spring burial is planned. Bill wanted to help the Haitian relief; gifts in his memory may be made to Partners in Health, P.O. Box 845578, Boston, MA 02284-5578 or online at www.pih.org. Write “Haiti – in memory William Babson” on memo line. Cash gifts will be accepted at all gatherings and immediately sent. Gifts may also be sent to the American Lung Association of Maine, P.O. Box 2109, Augusta, ME 04338-2109. Write “In memory of William Babson” on memo line. Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com.
WILLIAM EVERETT BABSON
