Donald E. Babb

Donald E. Babb, 82, of Magnolia, formerly Baytown, was born October 28, 1932, in Fall City, NE and passed away peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday, October 6, 2015. Mr. Babb has been involved with rotating equipment since 1957 having been associated with Fairbanks Morse & Co, 28 years in service and sales management. He joined I. W. Hickham Co. in 1979 as a part owner and Vice President. In 1989, he became CEO/President of the company then known as Hickham Industries Inc. and was eventually owned by Sulzer Bros. Inc. Mr. Babb retired in 1998. Mr. Babb founded Turbologistics, Inc. in 1999, which involved reapplication and the supply of used and new turbomachinery including screw and centrifugal compressors. He served in the U. S. Navy during the Korean War from 1951 until 1955. He was also a founder of the Hack Attack Golf Tournament benefiting Boys & Girls Harbour in La Porte, TX. He was awarded the Commodore Award. He enjoyed fishing, traveling, and GOLF, GOLF, GOLF!!

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Eleanor Gilbertson Babb; infant daughter, Alice Babb; father, George Babb; mother, Mary Alice Mellage Babb; stepmother, Mary Babb; brother, Jerry Babb; stepsister, Judy Bennett; uncles, Raymond Mellage and Wilbur Mellage; cousin, Eugene Mellage; aunt, Vada Ireland Mellage; and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Charles and Agnes Johnson Gilbertson. He is survived by his wife, Jeanine LaPointe Babb of Magnolia; children and their spouses, Charles R. and Sharon Babb of Brenham, John S. Babb of Houston, Heidi M. Babb of Brenham, Tammy and Warren Holmes of League City, Donald E. ""Bucky"" and Christine Babb of Pasadena and Terina Babb and Ernie Salter of Baytown; stepchildren and their spouses, Jackie and Dale Clinkscales of Joshua, Debra and David Garcia of Torino, Michael Migura of Houston, Robert Biddison and Tricia Baley of Spring, and Lara and Matthew Huey and James Biddison, all of Magnolia; sister-in-law, Pat Babb of Beloit, WI; niece, Marci Babb-Mosur & husband Scott, of Milwaukee, WI; nephew, Raymond Babb of Beloit, WI; cousin, Jo Mellage of Phoenix, AZ; and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.

His family will receive friends at Navarre Funeral Home Thursday from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be Friday, October 9, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. at Navarre Funeral Home with Rev. Jamie Lea officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at Forest Park East Cemetery in Webster.

Serving as pallbearers will be Lyndon Holmes, Preston Holmes, Cameron Holmes, Taylor Gates, Scott Babb, Jon Babb, James Biddison, and Ernie Salter. Honorary pallbearers will be Erin Babb, Charlene Babb Rau, Marcus Babb, Kevin Babb, and Chris Babb.

To view the online obituary or to post a tribute for the family, go to www.navarrefuneralhome.com

Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of Navarre Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 2444 Rollingbrook Dr., Baytown, TX, 77521 (281) 422-8111.