Eleanor "Dearie" Babcock's Obituary
Eleanor “Dearie” Babcock
1919-2014
Spring Lake County Golf Champion for 19 Years
Eleanor, age 94 of Spring Lake passed away Monday, June 30th, 2014. Born and raised in Spring Lake, really enjoyed her years of living in Spring Lake. She love sports—Golf, Swimming, Sailing, and skiing—also ice boating in the winter.
Dearie, as her friends called her, enjoyed life to the fullest—especially when she was in competition playing golf in tournaments or sailing of Spring Lake with friends in the week-end races or regattas at the Spring Lake Yacht Club.
Eleanor Margaret Babcock was born August 3, 1919 to parents Hans Carlson and Fanny Arnesen Carlson in Spring Lake. Eleanor lived in the area all her life. Graduated from Grand Haven High School in 1938. Attended Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, Michigan. She was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority. She married Richard E. Babcock, May 16, 1942 at the First Presbyterian Church in Grand Haven, where they both were members.
She was a leading woman golfer in the State of Michigan. She was the Spring Lake Country Club Women’s Club Champion for 19 years. The Western Michigan Golf Association Champion, The Spring Lake Invitational Tournament Champion, Pontaluna Golf Club Champion, Runner-Up in the State Championship and the winner of several Medal Play Titles.
Eleanor was active in Girl Scouts—had an Intermediate Troop in Spring Lake and also was member of the Girl Scout Council. In the early days of our local radio station, WGHN, she was a salesperson. She was very interested in cars and was the first woman salesperson for Chrysler-Plymouth. She volunteered at the North Ottawa Community Hospital in the Gift Shop and also delivered Meals on Wheels.
She and her husband enjoyed remodeling houses in the area—they did several—including the interior decorating. They did a lot of traveling—her favorite destinations were Norway and Alaska.
She was a member of The Spring Lake Country Club, Pontaluna Golf Club, Spring Lake Yacht Club and The Grand Rapids Power Squadron. She was President of the Western Michigan Gold Association and a board member of the Harbor Humane Society where she volunteered countless hours at the shelter.
Eleanor was preceded in death by her husband Dick Babcock in 1993, father Hans Carlson in 1973 and mother and mother Fanny Arnesen Carlson in 1980. Both of her parents were born in Norway.
A graveside service will take place 1:00 PM Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at Spring Lake Township Cemetery with Rev. Patricia Locke officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the Richard E. and Eleanor Carlson Babcock Memorial Fund at the Grand Haven Community Foundation. Please share a memory or sign the family’s online guestbook at www.vbkfuneralhome.com
The family is being served by VanZantwick Bartels Kammeraad Funeral Home in Grand Haven.
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