Ruth Babcock

Ruth Babcock passed from this life into the joys of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, 7:30 a.m., Monday Dec. 2. She was born to Earl and Mina (Short) Hewgill on the family farm near Clarksburg , Ontario , Canada. She was born again into the family of God at 7 years of age and by high school she was leading an after school Bible class for children at their church in Thornbury, Ontario. After high school she attended Normal Teaching College in Toronto and taught country elementary schools for three years before enrolling at Roberts Wesleyan College, Rochester, N.Y. From there she graduated 1957 with a B.S. in Nursing Arts and shortly after graduation married Lyle Babcock. She worked in nursing at Rockford Memorial Hospital. The Babcocks served churches in Rockford, IL and Davenport, IA before moving to Freeport in 1959. Here Ruth oversaw the new born nursery at Freeport Memorial Hospital. As children were born and Lyle took on Richland Free Methodist, near Red Oak and Grace Free Methodist Church, McConnell , in addition the Freeport First Free Methodist, Ruth raised the children at home while Lyle taught school in addition to pastoring the three church. She ran the church office in the home, and drove vans to transport children and youth to ministries of the three churches. At Richland FMC, she led worship, taught Sunday School and took on other leadership roles for over 30 years of the 51 years Lyle has served the church. For the last 21 years she suffered from Alzheimer's. Her husband was primary caregiver with help from several others. Ruth showed the love and patience of Christ consistently until her homegoing. She attended church regularly until the last two weeks of her life. Many will miss her greatly but Lyle will miss her most after 56 years of marriage to this saint of God. Ruth is survived by her husband Rev. Lyle Babcock, two sons Raymond (Pam) of Sawyer, MI; Dean (Stephanie) of Malawi, Africa, and daughter Ruth, Farmington, NM; grandchildren Joshua, Ericka, Andrea, Timothy, Cheyenne, Christopher, Jonathan, Sarah, and one expected in April; one great granddaughter, Jonnicka; sisters Grace (Tom) Walton and Alice (Floyd) Hicks, of Ontario, brother Ray (Kathy) Hewgill, of Ontario; sister-in-law Mariam Hewgill of Ontario. Ruth is predeceased by brothers Murray and Frank Hewgill and one grandson, Andrew Babcock. Funeral services will be held at First Free Methodist Church 2:30 pm Saturday. Visitation Friday evening-4-6 p.m. at Burke-Tubbs and for 1 hour before service at the church.