BABCOCK, B. June

B. June Gelvin-Babcock, passed away December 28, 2003. June was born June 7, 1922 to Frank O. and D. Maude Gelvin in Littleton, Colorado. She grew up in Taos and Sante Fe New Mexico. The family moved to Albuquerque, NM. where Frank owned a Pontiac dealership. Maude moved the family to Long Beach, CA following Frank's death in 1943 and it was there that June met Charles Babcock who was stationed at the Long Beach Army Air Corp station. June and Charles married in 1944 and enjoyed the life associated with the AAC and later the U.S. Air Force as they traveled to many destinations. June was an accomplished artist who enjoyed the out of doors. She spent many hours sketching and painting the sights that she enjoyed while traveling the United States. Her work displayed her love of her home, the Southwest. It was not unusual to find June and her dog Widget traveling the back roads of Arizona, conducting bird counts for Arizona Game and Fish or painting scenery. She was also an avid bird watcher. June was an active member of the Ajo community where she lived. She was the Chapter Chairman of National Genealogical Records for the Copper State Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Conductress for Oasis Chapter #33 of the Order of Eastern Star, a member of the Arizona Artist Guild, the Arizona Pastel Artists Association, the Arizona Watercolor Association and the Ajo Garden Club. June was preceded in death by her husband Charles and is survived by her son Lynn Babcock (Carol) of Peoria, Arizona and daughter Cynthia Chapman (Hank) of Rogue River, Oregon, granddaughters Amy Carlson (Todd), Melissa Murphy (Shane) and Mindy Briggs (Chris) all of Arizona and grandsons Rick Fry (Tammy) and Tom Fry (Lindsay) of Oregon, and seven great grandchildren, Matt, Taylor, Shane Michael, Ariel, Ricky, Weston and Ethan. June has requested that her ashes be cast over "her mountains" in her native Colorado and that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Hospice of Arizona, 2222 W. Northern Avenue, Suite A-100, Phoenix, AZ 85021 or to the Arizona Pastel Artists/Arizona Watercolor Association at 7528 W. Sequoia Dr. Glendale, AZ 85308. A celebration of her life will be held at the Masonic Hall, 241 La Mina Ave, Ajo, Arizona on Saturday, January 10, 2004. Published in the Arizona Republic on 1/1/2004.