Gloria Lynn (Bushnell) Babcock was born on the Bushnell family farm west of Speed, Kansas, on Dec. 16, 1934 to John Wellington Bushnell and Sarah Ellen (Eller) Bushnell. She passed away at the Phillips County Hospital in Phillipsburg, on Monday, Aug. 10, 2020 at the age of 85 years.
Gloria spent her early childhood and school years in Speed, Kirwin, Victoria, and Agra.
On Sept. 9, 1951 she married Donald Eugene Babcock in Kensington. They lived in and around the Phillipsburg area their entire married life. Don drove truck for Farmland Industries for several years and later became fully employed in the family farming business. Gloria was a homemaker, but also had jobs throughout the years as a waitress at Martha’s Café, store clerk with Rankin Drug, and secretary at High Plains Mental Health just prior to her retirement.
Gloria was preceded in death by her parents, John and Sara Bushnell, a son, Gordon Eugene Babcock, grandson Bronson Phillip Babcock, and granddaughter Audra Lynn Babcock. Also preceding her in death were her oldest brother, Will Jr. Schalansky, his wife Elda, and two younger brothers, John Ray Bushnell and Earl F. Bushnell.
Survivors include her husband, Donald, of the home, daughter Donita Lynn Pemberton and husband, Jim, of Russell, son Gregory Alan Babcock and wife, Kim, of Phillipsburg; six grandchildren, Jared Pemberton and wife Terri, Russell; Jordan Pemberton and Shannon Ballenger, Wichita; Megan (Babcock) Irvine and husband Brian, Littleton, Colo.; Melissa (Babcock) DeWitt and husband Randy, Manhattan, Kan.; Grant Babcock and wife Megan, Littleton, Colo.; and Barrett Babcock, Russell; 10 great grandchildren, Evelyn and Alyson Pemberton and Sophia Ballenger, Wichita; Elijah, Ruby, and Tucker Irvine, Littleton, Colo.; Finley and Hadley DeWitt, Manhattan, Kan.; Wesley and Benjamin Babcock, Littleton, Colo.; Chandler Betts, Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Also surviving are sister, Ellen Adee, rural Phillipsburg, brothers Gary Eller, Colorado, and Warren Bushnell, Wilson, Kan., and sister-in-law Ann Bushnell, Phillipsburg, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
Cremation is planned and a private memorial service and family gathering will be held to honor Gloria at a later date. In lieu of flowers or memorials, the family requests that condolences may be sent to her husband, Don, Phillipsburg, and/or her children, Donita, Russell, and Greg, Phillipsburg.