The Portsmouth Times
Portsmouth, Ohio
January 15, 1965
pg. 1 Funeral Saturday Dr. Babcock Is Victim Of Fatal Heart Attack Dr. Joseph Morris Babcock, 71, nationally known optometrist, died about 4:15 p.m. Thursday at his home on Two-Mile Hill. Dr. Babcock suffered a heart seizure while supervising work near his home. He was dead on arrival at Mercy hospital. Funeral services are to be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday at Second Presbyterian Church, with burial in Memorial Burial Park. Rev. Leslie Pritchard is to officiate. Friends may call at Daehler Funeral Home from 6 to 9 tonight. A resident of Portsmouth since 1906, Dr. Babcock was active in many community affairs. He was a loyal booster of his adopted city and served on numerous civic committees. He helped organize the Exchange Club, of which he was a charter member and past president, and devoted much time to the Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce. He served as its president and for many years was a delegate to the Chamber's national convention. He also was a director of First Federal Savings & Loan Association, the Business & Professional Men's Club and the Union Mission and was a member of Secong Presbyterian Church. Dr. Babcock was a member of Aurora Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite, Valley of Cincinnati and Portsmouth Shrinme Club. He was a member of the Elks Lodge. He was one of five who organized the Sheard Foundation for Education and Research at Ohio State University, from which grew the Optometric Development Fund that made possible the first optometry building on the OSU campus. Optometery was his life and hobby and he was known as "Mr. Optometey," because of hios many year's devotion to the profession and its associations. State, National Officer Dr. Babcock served 20 years as secretary of the Ohio State Optometric Association and in 1959 was named secretary-emeritus. He was one of five honorary life members of the American Optometric Association, having served as vice president of the asociation and for 18 years as director of its department of national affairs. He testified for the association on numerour occasions before congressioonal committees on the subject of optometry. In World War II, he was appointed by President Roosevelt as an advisor to Lewis B. Hershey, director of selective service, on a healing arts educational advisory committee. He also served on the programs and service committee of the President's Safety Committee and was instrumental in the establishment of the Optometry Corps in the armed forces. He was an honorary member of Epsilon and Omega Delta fraternities and received a gold medal award from Beat Sigma Kappa Fraternity in recognition of his serevice to the profession. In the summer of 1963, Dr. and Mrs. Babcock were delegates from the United States to the International Optometry and Opticians confereance in Geneva, Switzerland. Developed Real Estate Dr. Babcock became interested in real estate developmenmt and in 1943 purchased a 62-acre hill tract nortn of Cole's Bld. He increased the acreage to 140 acres and developed Sheridan Heights.Dr. Joseph Morris Babcock. He supervised the laying out and pavement of streets, installation of sewer and waterlines and laid out large building lots for residences. In 1963, he began construction of his new home on Two Mile Hill overlooking the city and valleys. Mr. and Mrs. Babcock moved into the home last year. Native of West Virginia Dr. Babcock was born at Morgantown W. Va., was reared in western New York and attended schools at Boston and New Haven. He located in Portsmouth in 1916 and with Dr. James G. Bennett organized the form of Bennett & Babcock. His son, Dr. Joseph M. Babcock, Jr., joined the form in 1951. In 1959, Dr. Bennett retired and the firm name was changed to Drs. Babcock & Babcock. Dr. Babcock is survived by his wife, Mrs. Lucille McClanahan Babcock, the son, Dr. Babcock Jr., 3509 Sheridan Rd.; three daughters, Mrs. Donald Covert, 3525 Sheridan Rd., Mrs. Ernest E. Eynon, 3313 Sheridan Rd., and Mrs. Richard Scurlock, 3507 Orchard Dr. 18 grandchildren and a great-grandchild. He also is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Maurice Waite, Mrs. Austin and Mrs. Roy Lindsey, all of South Dayton, N. Y. He wad preceded in death by his first wife, Mrs. Louise Gibbs Babcock. The fire department rescue squad and a Daehler ambulance responded when Dr. Babcock collapsed. Oxygen was administered to no avail.
The Columbus Dispatch
Columbus, Ohio
Tuesday, May 31, 1983
Page B3 Babcock
Lucille M. Babcock, Widow of Joseph M. Babcock O.D. Monday, May 30, 1983 at the residence. Survived by mother, Mrs. Lucy B. McClanahan and cousins. Native of Adams County, Oh. Attended Ohio University. Member of Boulevard Presbyterian Church, having served as ruling elder 1967-1970 and 1976-1979. She served as Church Treasurer through March of 1983. Life member of the Auxiliary to the Ohio. Optometric Assn. Member of Norwestern Women's Club, having served as President 19676-1977 and its affiliated groups, Investors Study Group and Pins 'N Needles. Private interment Portsmouth, Oh. under the direction of SCHOEDINGER NORTHWEST CHAPEL, Memorial service Boulevard Presbyterian Church Thursday June 2 at 2 p.m. Rev. Richard E. Miller officiating. Friends will be received in the Lounge following the Service. Those who wish may contribute [to] the Boulevard Presbyterian Memorial Find, 1235 Northwest Blvd., Columbus 43212 or the Joseph M. Babcock Archives of the American Optometric Assn., 243 N. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO. 63141 in her memory.