Jean R. Babula and Matthew (Matt) Babula

Jean R. Babula and Matthew (Matt) Babula of Goshen, N.Y., have died.
Jean died on April 7, 2018, at age 95. Matthew died on July 21, 2018, at age 98.
Matthew was born in Passaic, N.J., on Dec. 1, 1919, the third child of John and Caroline (Nowak) Babula. He moved to the black dirt farm area of Pine Island when he was school-aged. He met the love of his life at the Middletown Roller Skating Rink when she asked him to skate during a lady's choice skate.
Jean was born in Great Barrington, Mass., on May 26, 1922, the older daughter of Floyd and Grace (Russell) Ferguson. She grew up in Hillburn, N.Y.. moving to Middletown, N.Y., when she was a teenager.
Matt and Jean both proudly answered the call to serve their country in World War II. Jean joined the WAVES, serving in Washington, D.C., in a highly classified decoding section. Matt joined soon after becoming part of the Maritime Services, serving on tankers going up and down the eastern seaboard and into the Gulf of Mexico.
Jean and Matt were married in 1945 while they were both still in the service. Jean often told how she had to get special permission to be out of uniform on her wedding day to get married in a wedding dress. Jean was proud to be a charter member of the Women in Military Service for America Memorial honoring women veterans. The memorial is located at the gates of Arlington Cemetery.
They shared a combined love of outdoor activities: baseball, swimming, skiing, camping, hiking, and canoeing. As their children Linda Babula, Jay Babula and Cheryl Schlicting came along, Jean and Matt (nearly always working side by side) expanded their interests to scouting activities, Goshen Youth Recreation leagues, and church youth groups. Matt was involved in Little League, and Jean helped start a girls league.
Camping was always a family priority from the time children were in diapers until Jean and Matt were in their 90s. Jean and Matt made plans each summer vacation to take the family somewhere new up and down the east coast of the U.S. and Canada with the canoe and a tent or camper. Trips often included wilderness area camping once the children were old enough to help portage the canoe and gear to the wilderness lakes. When Matt retired, they sold the house in Hambletonian Park in Goshen and purchased a motor home to follow their dream to go camping full time across the country. Grandchildren considered themselves lucky when they were sometimes invited to come along. The Adirondacks became a favorite destination, and there are especially fond memories of the Saranac Lakes area, Fish Creek and Rollins Ponds.
Matt became well known in the area as a wedding photographer for over 30 years. Additionally, people called on him for not just wedding photography but also First Communion portraits, Confirmation photos and sometimes baby photos. In the early days, Jean, not one to be left out, joined him in using oil paints to colorize the black-and-white portraits.
Matt is predeceased by his parents; brother, Frank; and sister, Stella (Reynolds).
Jean is predeceased by her parents and sister Beryl Stage.
They are also predeceased by a young son, John.
In addition to their children, they are survived by their grandchildren, Christopher (Jenna) Galle, Lynnai (Charles) Kernan, Andrew (Ashley) Babula, Grace Babula, and Annilise (Logan) Smith. They are also survived by four precious great-grandchildren, Noah, Mia, Jack, and Avery; as well as cherished nieces and nephews.
Combined services will be held on Saturday, Nov. 3, with visitation from 10 to 11 a.m., with the service of remembrance at 11 a.m. at the Goshen United Methodist Church , 115 Main St., Goshen, N.Y.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Goshen United Methodist Church, the Goshen Humane Society, or the Women in Military Service for America Memorial in Washington, D.C. (womensmemorial.org).
Arrangements were by Donovan Funeral Home, Goshen, N.Y.