Ruth Lovina Babcock, 88, of Santa Ana, Calif., died on August 26, 1996, at Valley County Hospital in Ord, Neb. She was born on July 18, 1908, in Oklahoma, the daughter of Hascal and Hattie (Pierce) Lane. The family moved by covered wagon to Bayard, Neb., in 1914, to homestead. They later moved to North Loup, Neb., to be near a Seventh Day Baptist church.
Ruth grew up in North Loup and graduated from the high school there. On July 30, 1927, she married Erlow T. (Ted) Babcock. In 1956, they moved to Santa Ana, where she attended Fullerton Jr. College and received a licensed nurse certificate at age 48.
After her husband's death in 1975, Ruth continued to live in Santa Ana until moving to Valley County Nursing Home this August. While living in California, she attended the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove. Among her hobbies were sewing, modeling, gardening, and painting.
Survivors include one daughter, Phyllis Clement of Ord.; one son, Joseph, of Franklin, Tenn.; one sister, Rua Collett of Long Beach, Calif.; nine grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held on August 31, 1996, at the North Loup SDB church, with Rev. Kenneth Burdick officiating. Burial was in Hillside Cemetery, North Loup.
