Chesterton Tribune

 

 

Nena Babcock services Saturday

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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.

 

 

Posted 11/13/2013

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

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