Melville Howard Babcooke, 81, of Florence passed away on Monday, February 2, 2015. Visitation will be from 12 - 2 p.m. on Thursday at Elkins Funeral Home. The funeral service will immediately follow at 2 p.m. with Rev. Jerry Rea officiating. Burial will be in Nebo Cemetery.

Melville was born January 11, 1934 in Deseronto, Ontario, Canada to the late Frederick Delora and Madeleine McMillen Babcooke. He enlisted as a midshipman in the Royal Canadian Navy and retired 26 years later as a Lt. Commander after serving as a fighter pilot and flight instructor. Fifteen years later, he retired again from Alfa Insurance Company. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge for over 50 years and the Scottish Rite. He was an avid hunter and field trialer with his long-time friend Dr. Daniel J. Hammond. He also loved to play golf with his grandsons and close friend, Dr. Mel Ambrose.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Margaret Campbell Babcooke; daughters, Angela (Reggie) Cole of Lexington, Alabama and Carolyn (Hoyt) Hamilton of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee; grandchildren, Jennifer (Kevin) Williams, Amanda (Thomas) Hubbard, Will Cole, Joshua Hamilton, Jacob Cole, and Sarah Hamilton; great-grandchildren, Gabriel Kilburg, Emerson and Joshua Hubbard, Emma Williams and Hudson Cole; brother, Norman (Susan) Babcooke of Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Joan Hall, Mary Dean and Jean Stubbs.

Pallbearers will be William and Jacob Cole, Joshua Hamilton, Kevin Williams, Thomas Hubbard, and Doug Olive.

In lieu of flowers, memorial may be made to the Vanderbilt Heart Institute.