Raymond F. Babeu, 83
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Raymond Francis Babeu, 83, of San Tan Valley, Ariz., formerly of North Adams, died peacefully on Thursday, July 3, 2014, in the comfort of his home and surrounded by members of his loving family and friends in Christ.
Born in North Adams on March 21, 1931, son of George Louis and Theresa DeMarco Babeu, he graduated from Drury High School and was a member of the Berkshire Rangers Drum and Bugle Corp.
An Army veteran, he served honorably from 1951 to 1954 during the Korean War, and was deployed to Korea and Japan. He was promoted to the rank of staff sergeatn, E-6, and worked as an electrical lineman and supervised the BN Honor Guard Drill Team.
Mr. Babeau was employed by the former Massachusetts Electric Co., retiring after 40 years.
He later devoted his life to the ministry as an ordained Christian minister. He and his wife, the former Helen Veronica Reardon, were pastors of Word of Life Church in Pittsfield.
He also hosted a cable-access television ministry, "God's Masterpiece," on which he interviewed guests and shared their testimony, biblical teachings and music ministry.
His loving wife of 58 years, whom he married on Jan. 14, 1956, predeceased him. They raised 11 children together.
He leaves seven sons, Peter Babeu and his wife, Julie, of Colorado, George Babeu and his wife, Kathleen, of Maine, John Babeu and his companion, Hillary Gentile, of Connecticut, Joseph Babeu and his companion, Paul Garcia, of California, Francis Babeu and his wife, Kim, of Texas, and Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu and Justice of the Peace Shaun Babeu and his wife, Brandy, all of Arizona; four daughters, Mary Babeu and Veronica Keating, both of Arizona, and Theresa LaCroix and her husband, Eric, and Lucy Babeu, all of North Adams; a sister, Florence Gimlewicz and her husband, Joseph, of Pittsfield; 28 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and in-laws Rodney and Eileen Prevey and Dorothy Babeu, all of North Adams.
His sisters Constance Oliver, late of Melbourne, Fla., and Regina Rose; brother Louis Babeu, late of North Adams, and granddaughter Samantha Babeu, late of Texas, predeceased him.
FUNERAL NOTICE — Funeral services for Mr. Babeu, who went to be with his lord and savior Jesus Christ, will be held in the chapel at Mountain View Cemetery and Funeral Home, 7900 East Main St., Mesa, Ariz.
A calling hour on Wednesday, July 9, at 9 a.m. will be followed by the funeral at 10. Burial will be in Mountain View Cemetery. Flowers may be sent to the funeral home.