Nena Lee (Winder) Babcock, age 92, died on November 10, 2013, in Chesterton,
Ind.
She was born October 15, 1921 in Springerton, Ill., to Ethel and Levi
Winder.
She lived in Illinois and moved to Valparaiso, Ind., graduating in 1940 from
Valparaiso High School.
At 16 years old, she was celebrated as Porter Co.’s first woman pilot to fly
‘solo.’
In 1940, she married Owen “Bus” Babcock.
She is survived by four children, Douglas (Betty) Babcock of Chesterton,
Ind.; Patricia (John) Tomka of Jacksonville, Fla.; Kathryn (Roger) Emlet of
Queen Creek, Ariz.; Joyce (Brian) Farka of Alexandria, Minn.; 15
grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Owen Babcock, and her brother,
John L. Winder.
She worked as a medical receptionist and church secretary and bookkeeper
over the years. Nena enthusiastically engaged in an inspiring breadth of
interests, including 30 years of teaching Sunday school, Pioneer Girl troop
leader, “Grandma” on five overseas teen mission trips, frequent traveler to
visit family and friends, passionate letter writer, and she was still riding
passenger on Harley motorcycles into her 80’s. She was a joyful friend to
many, an enthusiastic adventurer and a life-long follower of Jesus. Later in
life, she was well known for her baking (her trademark was sticky buns) and
quilting, with over 100 handmade quilts to her credit. Her fifth stroke
pulled her away from a half- finished quilt on the frame.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 16, at 10 a.m., at
Liberty Bible Church, 824 N. Calumet Ave., Chesterton, with burial following
at Chesterton Cemetery.
The family will receive friends on Friday, November 15, from 4 to 8 p.m. at
White-Love Funeral Home, 525 S. 2nd St., Chesterton, call 219-926-1309.
Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to Liberty Bible Church’s Library
where Nena worked weekly.