William “Bill” Frank Babington, 87, a resident of Franklinton, died at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at Riverside Medical Center. Born Nov. 25, 1922, he was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church and had worked as a pharmacist for over 50 years. Mr. Bill was a past president of the Chamber of Commerce and a former member of the Franklinton Town Council. He also served on the advisory board of Parish National Bank and was a member of the Masonic lodge.
During World War II, he was a 1st Lt. with the 8th Air Force 94th Bomb Group piloting a B-17 from England into France and Germany. He flew 17 missions but was shot down on March 8, 1944 over Quackenbruck, Germany and was subsequently captured by the German Army. He and his men were prisoners of war for 14 months before liberation by the Russian Army. Mr. Bill returned to Germany several years ago to revisit the area of his imprisonment and was given a key to the city of Quackenbruck by its officials. He was very proud of his service to his country but humbled by the recognition of it. He will always be a true patriot.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Babington of Franklinton; one son, Al (Diane) Babington of Baton Rouge; two daughters: Nancy (Rick) Reynolds of Metairie and Melinda (David) Jones of Southlake, Texas; one brother, Wallace K. Babington of Washington, D.C.; six grandchildren: Hope (John Paul) Huber of Timonium, Md., Ellen (Russ) Moody of Southhaven, Miss., Chris (Dannielle) Babington of Mountain Home, Ark., Candace (Saied) El-Shaer of Shreveport, Jenny (Lee) Collier of Lawrenceville, Ga. and Erin Jones and fiancé John Kilpatrick of Lawrenceville; great-grandchildren: John and Abigail Huber, Harrison Moody, Savannah Babington; Emily, Dylan and Sami El-Shaer.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Myrtle Sweeney Babington; a sister, Corrie Corkern, and a brother, Thomas Babington.
Visitation will be Monday, March 8 at Centenary United Methodist from 9 a.m. until time for a memorial service to be held at 11 a.m., with Rev. Steve Porter officiating.
Mr. Babington wished to be laid to rest alongside his other service men and women at Arlington National Cemetery and a service there has been planned for a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Centenary United Methodist Church, Fisher Methodist Center or World War II Museum in New Orleans.
