Gertrude and Edith May with Mother and Daddy
Gertrude, Kenneth and Edith May
Mr. and Mrs. O.G. Babcock observed their 50th wedding anniversary Sunday afternoon, February 4 (1962), with an open house at their home. The serving table was covered with a gold embroidered cloth from Damascus, Syria and centered with an epergne of gold and white chrysanthemums.
The three-tiered cake was topped with the gold numerals 50. Mrs. Sam E. Jones, Jr. and Miss O.L. Carpenter registered guests. Other members of the house party were Miss Marie Watkins of San Angelo, Mrs. Gene Lightfoot of Junction and Mmes. W.L. Davis, Alvis Johnson, Robert Kelley, Sr. H. V. Morris, B.W. Hutcherson, Herman Smith, E.D. Shurley and J.B. Renfroe.
The couple were married February 4, 1912, in the home of friends in Riverdale, Maryland and spent their honeymoon in nearby Washington, D.C.
Mrs. Babcock was born in Boulder County, Colorado and later moved with her parents to a homestead in Well County where she grew up, attending school in a neighboring county. She attended the University of Colorado at Fort Collins where she met her future husband. She received her degree in homemaking in January 1912.
Her husband was born in Denver, Colorado the son of pioneer settlers of Colorado. His father had mining interests near Denver. Babcock attended the University of Colorado, graduation in 1910. He then accepted a position as professor of entomology at the University of Maryland and was also inspector of imported plants. In 1912 he accepted a similar position at the University of Minnesota where he spent two years, leaving to work with the United States Department of Agriculture at Dallas. He was later sent to Sonora to do co-operative work with the State at the experiment station, working here for 22 years. For the last few years prior to his retirement, he worked with the laboratories at Menard, Dallas and Kerrville.
The couple have three children, Edith May, now Mrs. Robert H. Kokernot of Cali, Colombia; Gertrude, now Mrs. E.B. Tipton, Jr. of Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Kenneth of McCamey. All three of their children were present for the anniversary celebration. They also have seven grandchildren: Mrs. Sherry Scoff of McCamey, Jan, Peggy, Walter and Diana Kokernot, and Carole and Hilde Tipton. They also have one great-granddaughter, Shelly Kay Scott.
Out of town guests here Sunday afternoon included Mr. and Mrs. George Dumbauld of Houston, L.J. Bottimer of Kerrville, and Mr. and Mrs. Emmett Gardner, Mr. and Mrs. C.W. Mims, Mr. and Mrs. James Caldwell and Anne and Miss Marie Watkins, all of San Angelo.
Marie was like a family member. She taught piano and voice and lived with Babcock’s in 1930’s. She was asked to be Diana Kokernot’s godmother. Ethel and her husband, George, were dear friends of Edith and Robert whom they met shortly after moving to Houston in 1946. Ethel was Jan Kokernot’s godmother.
The photograph was taken by George Dumbauld.
Edith May traveled from Cali, Colombia to help host the 50th Wedding Anniversary of her parents. The following is a letter written by her mother in anticipation of this grand family celebration.
