Commonwealth Journal

Legacy

October 30, 2008

Joseph Babis

Joseph E. “Joe” Babis, 78, formerly of Casey County, Ky., passed away Tuesday, October 28, 2008.

Joe was preceded in death by his dearest friend and lover, Cleta Mae Watson Callahan. He is the dear father of Joseph Vincent (and Beverly), Cathy, William (and LeeAnne), John (and Kathy), Tom, Diane (and Mark) Fricker and Tim (and Nicole) and dear stepfather of Terri Huff, Lisa (and Ron) Cornetet, Lance Haggard and Heather (and Agnes) Callahan. From his blended family of 11 children, he is the dear grandfather of 21 and great-grandfather of three. He is also the dear brother of Bernice (the late Max) Bacon, Bill, Bob (and Jett), Frank (and Pam) and Martha (and Richard) Bedal.

Joe was many things to many people. His grandchildren fondly remember “junking” with him. He would pile the kids into his Cadillac and take them shopping at Goodwill. He would give each kid 20 dollars to spend as their hearts desired. These memories are dear to each and every child.

After graduating in 1948 from Saint Francis De Sales High School in Utica, NY, Joe began his avionics career by joining the United States Navy and completing the Class A Aircraft Electronics School in Memphis, Tenn. While on active duty during the Korean War, 1948-1952, Joe served as an Aviation Electronics Technician while based in London, England; French Morocco; Key West, Fla. and NAS Oceana, Va. During that time, he flew as aircrew and installed and maintained navigation and communications equipment on various Navy aircraft, which included the F4U Corsair.

Following his Navy tour, Joe ventured to California to attend college and continue his career in electronics working at Long Beach Naval Shipyard. He later worked for Air Oasis in Long Beach where he set up and managed their avionics shop.

In 1957, Joe accepted an offer from Jerry Swart at Cincinnati Aircraft to set up and manage an avionics shop at Lunken Airport in Cincinnati, Ohio. Five years later in 1962, he established his own business, Avionics, Inc. and remained a lifetime pilot and advocate of aviation. He was awarded the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) for Avionics Technician of the Year in 2005. In July 2007, he sold Avionics, Inc. and continued to be involved in the aviation business.

Throughout Joe’s life, he generously supported the Shriners. It would please him if in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Shriners. Checks should be made out to Shriners Hospital for Children at 3229 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229 or credit card donations called to Trish Planck at 513-872-6118.

A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, at Valley Oak Cemetery.

Morris & Hislope Funeral Home, Science Hill, KY is in charge of local arrangements.

Text Only
Legacy
  • William Pinkston

    William "Eddie" Pinkston, 55 of Spice Ridge Road, Stanford, passed away on Thursday, May 6, 2010.

    May 10, 2010

  • Jonathan Pickerell

    Jonathan Tyler Pickerell, age 18 of Somerset, departed this life on Friday, May 7, 2010 in Somerset.

    May 10, 2010

  • Charles Coomer Jr.

    Charles Coomer, Jr., 82, of Somerset, Ky., passed away, Wednesday, May 5, 2010 at Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital.

    May 10, 2010

  • John Britton

    John Matthew “Snake” Britton, 69, Burgin, husband of Simonetta "Sam" Britton, died Thursday, May 6, 2010 at his home in Burgin.

    May 10, 2010

  • James Abel

    James Abel, 51, of Science Hill, passed away on Saturday, May 8, 2010 at his residence.

    May 10, 2010

  • Mary Lee

    Mary Zella Wiggington Lee, 88, formerly of Somerset, Ky., died peacefully on May 4, 2010.

    May 10, 2010

  • Adams, Harold.jpg Harold Adams

    Harold Landon Adams, 73, of Burnside, Ky., entered into his Heavenly home on Wednesday, May 5, 2010.

    May 10, 2010 1 Photo

  • Christopher Whitling

    Christopher William Whitling, 50, of Eubank, Ky., departed this life on Wednesday, May 5, 2010, at Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital.

    May 7, 2010

  • Jeremy Tucker.jpg Jeremy Tucker

    Jeremy D. Tucker, of Somerset, Ky., son of James and Juanita Humant Tucker, was born on June 16, 1974, in Covington, Ky., and departed this life on Sunday, May 2, 2010, at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington, Ky., having attained the age of 35.

    May 7, 2010 1 Photo

  • Southerland, Josie.jpg Josie Southerland

    Josie Gadberry Southerland, 88, of Somerset, Ky., formerly of the Jabez community,

    May 7, 2010 1 Photo

News Live
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
AP Video
Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room Paul Suffers Narrow Loss to Romney in Maine Recording Superstar Whitney Houston Dead at 48 Maine GOP Chairman Says Romney Wins Caucuses Palin Brings Anti-Washington Message to CPAC Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria Romney Slams President Obama at CPAC Gingrich: Pres. Obama 'waging War on Religion' 5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La. Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal $25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
9/11 Remembered
Facebook
SEC Zone
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Popular Searches
Powered by Local.com
Stocks