Longtime Farmers Union friend, former OFU legislative director and current secretary/treasurer of Clinton County Farmers Union, Dick Babb passed away on Christmas Eve.
“Dick was a community spirited man, committed to family farmers who built a reputation as a totally fair minded friend of agriculture in his tenure as Ohio Farmers Union legislative director,” said Linda Borton, Ohio Farmers Union executive director.
Borton said that at Babb’s going away party (as OFU legislative director) there was a procession of representatives and senators from both parties to wish him well.
“He will be remembered by many for his concern and passion for people. He was known throughout the state as a sharing and giving person,” Borton added.
Richard “Dick” Babb Obituary
Richard W. “Dick” Babb, 84, local auctioneer and real estate agent, passed away peacefully 7:14 PM, Saturday, December 24, 2011 at his home under the care of Community Care Hospice. His second wife, Ann Reno, survives. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Willadean Wilson Babb. Dick was born April 4, 1927 in Pickaway County, son of the late Weldon J. and Bertha D. Hulse Babb. After the death of his parents, he was raised by his grandparents Albert and Ida Mae Goldsberry Babb on a farm in Fayette County. He was a 1945 graduate of Washington C. H. High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp. as an Air Cadet in W.W. II and utilized the G.I. Bill to attend The Ohio State University. Due to family illness, he returned to the farm and later attended G I Agriculture Vocational School in Fayette County.
Dick farmed with Deep Valley Farms in Illinois, worked with the University of Illinois and the International Harvester Company experimenting with the effects of leveling, which resulted in the Illinois Legislature passing bills forcing leveling on farmland. Dick was instrumental in the passing of CAUV in Columbus which has aided farmers all over the state. In 1958 he attended Missouri Auction School and moved to Clinton County. He was a past president of the Ohio Auctioneers Association and lobbied for the existing Auction Law. He served on the Ohio Auctioneer Commission under Governors Gilligan and Rhodes. Dick served on Wilmington City Council for 2 terms (1960-1965). He served on the Clinton County Board of Election as Director and board member.
He was the legislative agent for Ohio Farmers Union and was currently registered as an executive agent lobbyist and legislative agent. Dick was also the current Secretary-Treasurer of the Clinton County Farmers Union, Inc. In June, 2008 he was appointed by Governor Strickland to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Reclamation Commission primarily dealing with mineral mining in Ohio. He served as the Clinton County Democratic Chair, ran for the Ohio Senate, and was a current Clinton County Democratic Executive Committee Member. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles 1224, the B.P.O. Elks 797, the American Legion Post 49, the F&AM Lodge 52, and the Aladdin Shrine.
In addition to his second wife, Dick is survived by four daughters, Cheri (Jerry Brown) Babb of Corvallis, Oregon; Susee (Jim Taylor) Babb of Wilmington, Ohio; Gail Anne (Fadi) Al-Ghawi of Wilmington, Ohio; Nancy Babb (Scott) Dabe of Sardinia, Ohio; his grandchildren Eric (Stephanie) Babb-Brown, Ayla Babb-Brown, Aaron Al-Ghawi, Tanner Lee Dabe, Michael Dabe, and Kate Wallace; several nieces and nephews; and two special dogs, Bo and Sassy. In addition to his first wife and parents, two sisters, Betty Arnold and Mary Joan Moore, and a step grandson Devin Dabe, are preceded in death.
Dick proudly donated his body to the Wright State University School of Medicine so that future medical doctors would benefit from his generosity. A celebration of Dick’s life will be held 1:00 PM, Saturday, January 7, 2012 at the Reynolds-Smith Funeral Home, 327 N. South Street, Wilmington, Ohio. Friends may call from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Saturday, January 7, 2012 at the Reynolds-Smith Funeral Home. Military honors will be provided by the American Legion Post 49 Memorial Squad. A reception will follow the memorial service at the General Denver Hotel Dining Room.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Clinton County Farmer’s Union Dick Babb Memorial Scholarship, P. O. Box 49, Wilmington, Ohio 45177 for students attending college in the field of agriculture.
Constance Lighthall says
Hello,
There are quite a few of us in Clermont County who have fond memories of Dick Babb. Your piece about him is very nice and we would like to share it. I have already posted the link to this at our web site. I am seeking permission to copy the text onto our web site. Of course I will state it is posted with permission by your organization. Here is the web page for which the article will reside: http://www.clermontdems.org/ht/d/sp/i/1367374/pid/1367374
Kind regards, Constance Lighthall
Clermont County Democratic Party, Central Committee Chair