Submitted by: Dan Rich

Marian S. Babcock
Aug. 7, 1918 - Aug. 24, 2001

South Bend Tribune 10/21/2001

Marian S. Babcock (Shields), 83, of W. North Shore Drive, South Bend, Ind., died at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 24, 2001, in the Holy Cross Care and Rehabilitation Center after a relatively short illness.

Funeral services were held Aug. 28 in St. Mark's Catholic Church, Londonderry, N.H., followed by burial at Holy Cross Cemetery, also in Londonderry. Marian was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on Aug. 7, 1918, to the union of the late George E. and Jessie Evans Shields. She graduated from Shaker Heights High School, Shaker Heights, Ohio, in 1936 and from Cornell University - School of Hotel Administration in 1943. She remained a member of the Cornell Hotel Society until her death.

In 1946 she married Harry J. Babcock (deceased 1965). In 1952 the family moved to the New York City area. Upon arrival in New York Marian accepted employment with a hotel accounting firm, Horwath and Horwath, New York, N.Y. Later that firm merged with another firm, becoming Laventhal and Horwath. In November 1987 she retired after 36 years as head of the proofreading department. Marian is survived by her son, Donald W. Babcock of Derry, N.H.; a grandson, Donald W. Babcock Jr., of Chesapeake, Va.; a granddaughter, Rosaline E. Babcock of Virginia Beach, Va.; and a sister, Winifred E. Wyatt of South Bend.

After retirement, Marian "Mern" moved to South Bend to be near family. She finally had time to enjoy following golf, tennis, football, baseball and basketball on television. She made a real production of the NCAA basketball tournament. She was an avid reader and a news junkie. She loved to laugh, finding political humor particularly entertaining. She also was a regular viewer of WNIT. In her younger days she was an excellent cook and thoroughly enjoyed giving parties for her friends in her small New York apartment with a miniscule kitchen. She will be missed by many who loved and respected her.

Donations may be made to St. Margaret's House (a day care facility for women and children), 117 N. Lafayette Blvd., South Bend, IN 46601; or to Cornell University, 55 Brown Road, Ithaca, NY 14850.

The Welsheimer Funeral Home handled local arrangements.