Lois Carlene (Walker) Babcock, age 85, passed away on November 22, 2025, in Kalamazoo, Michigan surrounded by her loving family. She was born on May 14, 1940 to Carl and Gladys Walker in Leavenworth, Kansas.
When Lois was a young girl, her family relocated to Benton Harbor, Michigan. She met her future husband, Wayne Babcock, in her ninth grade Civics class; however, they never dated. After graduating from high school, she attended nursing school in Springfield, Missouri with her sister Maxine. In a twist of fate, Wayne happened to be stationed nearby at Fort Leavenworth, and his sergeant happened to be Lois’ cousin. The sergeant knew that Wayne was also from Benton Harbor, and he encouraged him to call Lois. After spending some time together, they decided to write to each other while he was sent to France and she finished nursing school.
Lois and Wayne were married on June 15, 1963. They settled in Benton Harbor where she began her nursing career at Mercy Hospital. Lois worked at a variety of hospitals and nursing facilities over the years; however, she felt that she had finally “made it” once she started working as a surgical nurse, which had always been her goal. A treasured nursing memory was helping to deliver her granddaughter, Rachel.
Lois was a dedicated mother to her four boys, Kevin, Russell, Douglas, and David. She raised them with a strong foundation in faith and supported them in their various interests as they grew. Serving alongside Wayne in the United Methodist ministry became her second calling, and she devoted herself to congregations in Marcellus, Kingsley, Webberville, Berrien Springs, and Lawrence. They traveled on mission trips to Haiti and Sri Lanka, touching many lives along the way.
After retirement, Lois found purpose in the NOMADS ministries as she and Wayne participated in service trips to Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, North Dakota, Alabama, and Texas. They built their dream home on Merriman Lake where Lois enjoyed her gardens, the local birds, and Wayne’s fresh bluegill dinners. Lois made many happy memories there with her sons, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She doted on everyone in her family by providing them with freshly canned fruit, sending them with tins of decorated cookies for each holiday, and crocheting blankets and scarves in their favorite colors.
Lois was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Gladys Walker, sisters Joan Floyd and Maxine Henry, and brother Skip Walker. She is survived by her husband Wayne, sons Kevin (Nicole), Russell (Traci), Douglas (Dawn), and David (Kim), grandchildren Ashley (Tyler) Stack, Danielle, Christopher, Benjammin, Jared (Katie), Emily (Daniel), Jeffrey, Rachel, Megan, and Spencer Babcock, great-grandchildren Maya, Maxwell, and Lincoln Stack, sister Wilma Taylor, sisters-in-law Earlene “Kay” Holeton, Linda Walker, and Sandra McNary, and many nieces and nephews.