Herbert "Butch" George Babbitt, Jr. was born the son of Josephine Hayes Babbitt and Herbert George Babbitt in Los Angeles, California. Within days after Butch was born, the family returned to their home in Flagstaff, Arizona. Butch was raised in Flagstaff and attended St. Anthony's parochial school, followed by St. Anthony's Seminary in Santa Barbara, California before having a change of heart and returning to Flagstaff to complete his primary education at Flagstaff High School, where he graduated with the class of 1960. Shortly after graduating from High School, Butch enlisted in the US Air Force where he served as a water supply and sanitation engineer. While in the Air Force, Butch attended basic military training at Lackland AFB, Texas with follow-on technical training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. His first duty assignment was Walker AFB, New Mexico followed by Thule Air Base, Greenland, and Altus AFB, Oklahoma where he received an Honorable Discharge in 1964. After leaving the Air Force, Butch returned to Flagstaff where he worked several odd jobs before joining the Flagstaff Volunteer Fire Department where he helped organize search and rescue operations, ultimately leading to a fulltime position with the Flagstaff Fire Department in 1964. A humble, selfless servant who often risked his life for others, Butch broke his back three times throughout his tour with the fire department, forcing an early retirement in 1984.  He was a proud member of the Flagstaff Sheriff's Posse where he achieved the rank of Captain. Butch spent the last several years of his life as a recovering alcoholic, devoting his time to helping others overcome their own addictions through outreach programs with various AA groups in Flagstaff. Butch was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Nancy Babbitt Fugatt, Joanne "Joansie" Despain, and Bertrand "Thumper" George Babbitt. He is survived by his daughter Anna Marie Babbitt and son William Joseph Babbitt (married to Sarah [Droz] Babbitt), and their mother, Darlene Jewell Bagley. After a long and complicated relationship beginning in 1997, Butch married Ms. Carol Lee Linger in September 2023.

Funeral Services will be held Monday, June 10th at 10:30 at the Nativity Chapel on Cherry Street.  Interment will follow at 12PM at the Arizona Veterans' Memorial Cemetery at Camp Navajo; 14317 Veterans Dr, Bellemont, AZ.  Reception will be from 2-4PM at the Bonaventura Hall at San Francisco de Asis Catholic Church 1600 E. Route 66.