Dr. Edward Babin

Dr. Edward Babin, a long-time professor at the University of South Carolina, Upstate died Sunday, March 5, 2023 in Spartanburg.

He received his B.A. degree from the University of Louisiana, Lafayette in 1965, a master’s degree in Geography from the University of Arkansas in 1967, and a Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Georgia in 1974.

He taught geography at the University of Louisiana, Lafayette from 1968 to 1973. Dr. Babin joined USC Upstate as Professor of Geography from 1974 to 2015. He served as chair of the department twice.

Ed was born on August 29, 1944, the only child of Clarence and Helen Ourso Babin in Donaldsonville, LA.

Ed married Joanne Tinie Walsh on March 18, 1989 at Jesus, Our Risen Savior Catholic Church and was her devoted husband. They had no children. After marrying, Ed and Joanne became members of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church where Ed was an usher there for many years. He greeted parishioners at the door at both daily and Sunday Masses and enjoyed this ministry more than any other service he performed in the church.

In about 2013, Ed also started the senior singles’ luncheon for parishioners who found themselves single for one reason or another. This became a great place for newcomers to the parish to meet longtime members.

Ed became a professed member of the Secular Franciscan Order on April 5, 1995, which was a lifetime commitment to an international lay religious order in the Roman Catholic Church. He was a member of the St. Michael the Archangel Fraternity and served as its first minister for two terms.

Ed was an avid reader on many geographical topics and loved to discuss these with others. He had a dry sense of humor and a quick wit and loved to tell jokes and stories. He loved pets and had many special dogs and two cats in his lifetime. Among the dogs were Angel, Pepita, and Pixie, whom he loved to walk with through the neighborhood and greet the neighbors.

He grew tomatoes in his garden for many years and gave away tomatoes to others generously. He did his own yard work and earned “Yard of the Month” in the Forest Hills Neighborhood Association several times.

In addition to his wife, Joanne, Edward is survived by his cousins, Jay Landry (Verlein) of Donaldsonville, LA and “Sport” Le Blanc (Cacki) of Baton Rouge, LA; siblings-in-law, Marilyn Walsh (Ed Laskarzewski) of Glastonbury, CT, William “Bill” E. Walsh (Winnie), Marshall T. Walsh (Debbie), and Sara O. Walsh, David L. Walsh, all of Spartanburg, SC, and Natalie W. Bishop of Nashville, TN; along with many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother-in-law, T. Walsh.

A Christian Wake service will be held at 5:00 PM Thursday, March 9, 2023 at Floyd’s Greenlawn Chapel, 290 East Main Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302. A short, Franciscan Wake prayer service will also be said at this time in the chapel.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM Friday, March 10, 2023 at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 161 North Dean Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302, conducted by The Rev. David R. Whitman. Burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, 1300 Fernwood-Glendale Road, Spartanburg, SC 29307, following the Mass.

Memorial gifts may be made to St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church or School, 161 North Dean Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302.

Floyd’s Greenlawn Chapel