The Honorable Robert F. Babb, 88, died October 11, 2015 in his home.
Judge Babb, a native of South Norfolk, was the son of the late N.J. and Martha Stallings Babb.
A 1944 graduate of South Norfolk High School, Judge Babb entered Wake Forest College and was admitted to the Wake Forest School of Law after two years of undergraduate work. He transferred to the University of Richmond's T.C. Williams Law School for his final year and was graduated in 1949.
He began the practice of law in that year with Leo P. Blair in Portsmouth. While practicing law he was appointed a Substitute Judge of the District Court in 1970. He continued in private practice with numerous partners until his appointment in 1990 to the bench of the Portsmouth Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court by the Judges of the Circuit Court. He was later elected to serve a six year term by the state legislature. He served as a member of the Virginia Bar Council representing the 1st Judicial District (Norfolk County/Chesapeake) until it was annexed by the City of Portsmouth. Following his retirement in 1997, Judge Babb continued to serve in District Courts of the Tidewater area until 2009.
Judge Babb was president of the following organizations: Portsmouth-Norfolk County Bar Association; Child and Family Service of Portsmouth; Portsmouth Chapter of American Red Cross; Portsmouth Assembly; and Portsmouth Kiwanis Club. He served on the Board of Directors of the following corporations: Merchants and Farmers Bank; Dominion National Bank of Tidewater; Virginia Data Center, Inc.; Portsmouth Industrial Foundations, Inc.; and Atlantic Permanent Savings and Loan Association.
He was an active member of Churchland Baptist Church for over 50 years where he served as Trustee and Deacon.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 62 years, Mary Evelyn Barham Babb; his son, Robert F. Babb, Jr. and wife Charlotte; his daughter, Mary B. Morris; and four grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, October 15, 2015 in Churchland Baptist Church by Rev. Larry B. Coleman. Immediately following the memorial service, a reception will be held in the church fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Churchland Baptist Church, 3031 Churchland Blvd., Chesapeake, VA 23321. Condolences may be registered at BWFosterFuneralHome.com.