Ruthanne Babbs

Ruthanne Hadley Babbs, age 71, passed away on Saturday October 25th, 2014 at Dallas Regional Hospital in Mesquite, Texas, surrounded by her family and friends.Ruthanne was born on May 14th, 1943 in Tacoma, Washington to Earl and Luella (Fulton) Hadley. Ruthanne spent her early years in Tacoma with her mother until her father completed military service in World War II.At the end of the war, the family returned to Earl’s birthplace of Anoka, Minnesota where she was raised with her three sisters Margaret, Marylynne and Rebecca.In between detours to the banks of the Rum River, where she loved to dip her toes, she received a diploma from Anoka High School in 1961.After high school Ruthanne moved to Great Falls, Montana where she was caretaker for her aging grandfather, Guy Austin Fulton.During her time there she met and subsequently married Donald Babbs of Dallas, Texas.After living briefly in Montana, Wyoming and Missouri they eventually settled in Mesquite, Texas during which the family grew with the birth of their children Kimberly Arlene , Julie Karan and Daniel Austin Babbs. Ruthanne was a homemaker for her family until all her children entered grade school.After that she received training as a dental assistant and began working for a local dentist.She continued in this field for approximately ten years until making the decision to change occupations.Ruthanne graduated from barber college and operated a barber shop at the Army and Air Force Exchange Service where she proudly “trimmed hair for the Generals”.She retired as a barber in 2004 to care for her aging parents in her childhood home of Anoka until 2010.After their passing she returned to Texas to be closer to her grandchildren.Ruthanne lived in Mesquite until her passing. Ruthanne married Donald Babbs in 1962 in Anoka, Minnesota. They were married for 21 years. Ruthanne was a member of multiple churches throughout her life. She enjoyed needlework, square dancing, anything with bagpipes, old movies, visiting with friends, and anything with the color green or purple.Most recently Ruthanne was studying Biblical Chronology at Faith Bible Institute where she was working to receive formal certification. Ruthanne was preceded in death by her mother and father, Luella M. and Earl D. Hadley, Jr. Ruthanne is survived by her daughters, Mrs. Kimberly (Billy, Jr.) Prewitt of Mesquite, Texas; Mrs. Julie (Robert) Prewitt of Maypearl, Texas; and Mr. Daniel (Aimee) Babbs of Austin, Texas.Her sisters, Mrs. Margaret (Clark) Carlson of Coon Rapids, Minnesota;Mrs. Marylynne (Craig) Ingraham of Anoka, Minnesota; Mrs. Rebecca (Donald) Drew of St. Paul, Minnesota and cousin Mary Hadley of Anoka, Minnesota.Her grandchildren, Andrew (Lacey) Prewitt, Kathryn (Elvis) Opris, Hillary (Sean) Belknap, Seth, Kendall, Macks, Mason, Lydia, Susannah and Bobby Prewitt; Connie, Lorrie, Jessica and Troy Prewitt; Cameron and Braeden Babb; her great-grandchildren, Stella, Hadley, Ian, and Rory Prewitt;Adrielle, Elias and Arlon Opris;her nephews, Aaron and Dana Drew. A memorial service will be held at Friendship Baptist Church, 820 Pioneer Road, Mesquite, Texas, at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 29, 2014 co-officiated by her pastors, Bro. Bob D. Whitten, Bro. Charles Breithaupt, and Bro. Johnny Whittiker.Ruthanne will be interred next to her parents in the City of Champlin Cemetary in Champlin, Minnesota. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to Camp Lebanon Minnesota, 1205 Acorn Rd., Burtrum, MN 56318, https://secure-q.net/Donations/CLebanon/1499 ; or Faith Bible Institute in care of Hilltop Baptist Church, 523 East Fork Rd., Sunnyvale, Texas, 75182. The family extends their gratitude to the ICU doctors and staff of Dallas Regional Hospital for their thoughtful and respectful care of Ruthanne in her final days.They further extend thanks to her close friends and staff at Crescent Manor, the ladies of Mary & Martha Sunday School class, the Quilting group, and many friends at Friendship Baptist Church and the FBI classmates of Hilltop Baptist for their kindness and support.For more information contact Friendship Baptist Church at 972-285-4544.