Arthur Louis Babine

Portsmouth, RI - Retired Navy Commander Arthur Louis Babine, 82, of 21 Eyler Drive, Portsmouth, died Sunday, February 23, 2003 at home. He was the husband of Noreen Mary Egan Babine. He had lived in Portsmouth since 1973. Born in Providence, RI on July 4, 1920, he was the son of the late Arthur L. and Nellie Maillett Babine. He lived in Warwick and graduated from the former James T. Lockwood High School in 1938. Mr. Babine enlisted in the Navy in 1939. He served during WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He retired as Commander in 1973 with 34 years of service.He served on the USS Grayson from 1941 through 1947. The ship was engaged in 26 battles of which 13 were major. A Bronze Star was awarded for the 13 engagements. Of the four ships in the division, only the Grayson survived. The rest were sunk in the South Pacific.He served as repair officer on the USS Yosemite from 1964-1966. He was on the CruDesLant Staff from 1962-1964 and again from 1966-1969. His Naval Career also included tours of duty on several destroyers as well as shore duty and Naval Shipyards.After his retirement in 1973, he was employed by the Sheraton Islander Inn, Goat Island, Newport, retiring in July of 1991. Commander Babine was a communicant of St. Barnabas Church. He was a member of the Glen Manor Committee and had served as chairman of the House Committee.He is survived by his wife Noreen Egan Babine of Portsmouth, RI, four sons, Stephen M. Babine of Jacksonville, FL, Philip E. Babine of Princeton, NJ, Paul F. Babine of Newton, MA, and Arthur L. Babine of Sierra Vista, AZ, two daughters Judith Ann Painter of Savannah, GA and Patricia Ann Collier of Norfolk, VA, his brother Edward Babine of Warwick, RI, one granddaughter and many nieces and nephews. His funeral will be held on Thursday, February 27, 2003, at 9:00 AM from the Connors Funeral Home, 55 West Main Road, Portsmouth, with a Mass of Christian burial at 10:00 AM in St. Barnabas Church, 1697 East Main Road, Portsmouth. Burial and military honors will follow at St. Columba Cemetery, Browns Lane, Middletown. Memorial donations may be made to Visiting Nurse Service Hospice Care, 1184 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI 02871.