OBITUARY

Funeral services for Benjamin BABITZKE, 73 year old Higgins resident, were held on Wednesday, August 12, 1992 at 2 p.m. in the United Methodist Church in Higgins. The Rev. Rick Burkhalter officiated. Interment was in the Higgins Cemetery under the direction of Good Samaritan Funeral Service of Shattuck, Oklahoma.

Ben BABITZKE was born on October 20, 1918, southwest of Lipscomb, Texas to Christian and Christiana (Koch) BABITZKE. He grew to manhood on the family farm and attended the Plum Creek School through the seventh grade. Ben was baptized into the Lutheran Church at a young age. He married Ollie WOODS on March 25, 1943 in Clovis, New Mexico, and they made their home in Higgins. Ben was a farmer, building contractor and cabinet maker. He built several homes and the Golden Spread Motel and Café in Higgins. Mrs. BABITZKE was a life-long resident of Lipscomb County, Texas. He attended the United Methodist Church in Higgins.

Ben died on August 9 in the Hemphill County Hospital in Canadian, Texas.

He is survived by his wife, Ollie, of the home; a step-daughter, Lenora CULVER of Pampa, Texas; a nephew of Ollie's they raised from infancy, James Edward PEACOCK of Higgins; two grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; two brothers and their wives, Henry and Christian BABITZKE of Spearman, Chris and Evelyn BABITZKE of Canadian; five sisters, Dollie LONGHOFER of Claude, Texas, Emma SCHNEIDER of Arnett, Oklahoma, Valentine SCHOENHALS of Lipscomb, Anita and her husband, L. L. ANTHONY, of Spearman, and Erna GARDERT of Colorado Springs, Colorado; two sister-in-laws, Maggie BABITZKE of Canadian and Dollie BABITZKE of Ft. Smith, Arkansas; nieces, nephews and other relatives.

The family suggests memorials be made to the Don and Sybil Harrington Cancer Center of Amarillo.

(Published in The Golden Spread (Follett, TX), August 13, 1992.)