Gregory Alan Babcock

1956-2023

Gregory Alan Babcock was born March 23, 1956 to Donald and Gloria (Bushnell) Babcock in Phillipsburg, Kansas.  He passed away September 28, 2023 at the Smith County Memorial Hospital at the age of 67 years.

Greg attended school in Phillipsburg, Kansas and graduated with the Class of 1974.  He attended college at Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas, and graduated May of 1978 with a teaching degree in Industrial Technology.

On July 22, 1978, Greg married his high school sweetheart, Kim Diane (Newlin) Babcock at the United Methodist Church, Phillipsburg, Kansas and they celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary this past July in Estes Park, Colorado.

Greg and Kim made their first home in Ness City, Kansas where he taught various industrial technology classes for three years.  In November of 1980, Kim's father, Charles Chuck Newlin, longtime teacher and coach at PHS, passed away, and Greg and Kim were offered to move back home and accept teaching positions the following spring of 1981 in Phillipsburg. They returned home in early June and began building their lifetime home in rural Phillips County, with Greg designing its layout and assisting in its construction.   That fall they began their teaching careers.

Greg taught industrial technology where he influenced lives of countless students for the next 36 years, retiring in May of 2017.   "GB" was not simply a teacher of "hands on" drawing and woodworking skills, but a teacher of "life" who always encouraged each and every one of his kids who took his classes to think and dream big, urging them to believe "everything you do affects everything you do." When current and former students learned of his upcoming retirement, their overwhelming responses served as a reminder of his impact on their lives. It was truly incredible.  His legacy continues to live on in the words of love from past students.

Greg was born and raised on his family farm, and continued that tradition, alongside his father, Don, becoming a full-time farming operator in 2017.   Greg and his Dad were a great team, working alongside one another in planting and harvesting their crops, and managing a cattle business, as well.   It brought Greg the greatest joy to be with his Dad daily in sharing the rewards and challenges of farming.

While living in Ness City, Greg and Kim's first daughter, Megan Dawn (Babcock) Irvine was born on April 21, 1981.   Their second daughter, Melissa Kaye (Babcock) DeWitt was born on June 10, 1984 in Phillipsburg, and their son, Grant Wesley Babcock, arrived on March 31, 1987.

Greg was a devoted and loving husband to his wife, Kim, a wonderful father to their three children, and a beloved grandpa or "Papa" to seven precious grandchildren.    He loved taking family vacations, going on trips and regular "date nights" with Kim, and spending time with his immediate family and grandchildren, driving long distances many times to watch them participate in their sporting events, celebrate birthdays, and holidays, too.  Greg was a talented woodworker and his home is filled with many beautiful pieces of furniture he built for Kim throughout the years, along with college graduation mantel clocks for his three children, and nursery furniture for all of his grandchildren. Being a talented athlete himself in high school, he continued to play men's softball, basketball, golf, and bowling throughout his adult years.   He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, and working with horses.  Greg was a "lover of nature" and his happiest times were spent outside.

Greg's Christian faith was so important to him and he was a faithful friend of the United Methodist Church and the First Christian Church in Phillipsburg for the past 42 years, attending services regularly with Kim and family.  Some of his wife's favorite memories of their time in church are Greg singing "harmony" alongside her during the worship services.

Greg was preceded in death by his mother, Gloria (Bushnell) Babcock, and his brother, Gordon Eugene Babcock.

Survivors include his wife, Kim, of Phillipsburg, daughter Megan (Babcock) Irvine and her husband, Brian, of Littleton, Colorado, daughter Melissa (Babcock) DeWitt and husband Randy of Manhattan, Kansas, and son Grant Babcock and his wife Megan, of Littleton, Colorado; father, Don Babcock of Phillipsburg, Kansas; sister, Donita (Babcock) Pemberton and her husband Jim of Russell, Kansas; sister-in-law, Kay Newlin of Grand Island, Nebraska; nephews Barrett Babcock, Jared Pemberton, and Jordan Pemberton of Russell, Kansas; nephew Chuck Sanson of Kearney, Nebraska; and niece Mandy Karr of Aurora, Nebraska; seven grandchildren, Eli, Ruby, and Tucker Irvine of Littleton, Colorado, Finn and Hadley DeWitt of Manhattan, Kansas, and Wesley and Ben Babcock of Littleton, Colorado; numerous aunts, uncles, and first cousins, along with countless friends and former students.

Cremation was planned.  A memorial service will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday, October 5, 2023 at the Huck Boyd Community Center, Phillipsburg, with Minister Tony Keesee and Pastor Lew VanDerWege officiating. The services will be streamed live on the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel Facebook page. Inurnment will follow in the Fairview Cemetery, Phillipsburg.

Friends may sign the register book from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the GB (Greg Babcock) memorial scholarship in care of the Phillips County Community Foundation for future PHS graduates pursuing trade school and may be sent to the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, PO Box 563, Phillipsburg, KS  67661.