Stephen I. Babineaux, Sr.

New Iberia - A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 AM on Wednesday, March 8, 2017, at Nativity of Our Lady Catholic Church in New Iberia for Stephen I. Babineaux, Sr., 82, who passed away on Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Lafayette. A gathering of family and friends will be at Pellerin Funeral Home in New Iberia from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Tuesday, and continue on Wednesday from 8:00 AM until 10:45 AM. A rosary will be prayed at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, led by the Men's Rosary Group. Rev. Ed Degeyter will be the Celebrant. Entombment will follow at Nativity of Our Lady Cemetery in New Iberia, with Military Honors by the Iberia Honor Guard. A loving husband, father, and grandfather, Stephen "Pop" Ivy Babineaux, Sr. was born on November 1, 1934. He attended Mt. Carmel Catholic School in Lafayette in the first and second grades. He could not speak English then (he only spoke French), and failed first grade because of this. In third grade, he attended Cathedral School in Lafayette, and in fourth through seventh grades, he went to F.M. Hamilton, then to Lafayette High School. He loved boxing and lettered in high school. When he was 14, he was boxing at 165 pounds and placed third in the State Golden Gloves 1949-1950. He also threw the javelin in high school, and held District Championship. In November 1951 when Steve was 17, he entered the U.S. Air Force and completed Basic Training in San Antonio, Texas. He went to Armorment Training School at William's Air Force Base in Arizona, where he mastered the 45 cal. Tommy Gun, the 30 cal. Carbine, the 45 cal. hand gun, and the 50 cal. machine gun. In June 1952, he was sent to Okinawa in the "Twenty-Fifth Interceptor Squadron" during the Korean Conflict. He received an Accommodation Ribbon for fabricating a Jack Up for a wing bomb on fighter planes. Steve spent 23 months in Okinawa, where he pursued boxing, and held the 20th Air Force and Island Championship at Light Heavy Weight (175 pounds). After his Tour of Duty in Okinawa, Steve was transferred to Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, LA in the S.A.C. (Strategic Air Command) for 18 months. In August 1955, he was sent to Upper Hofford Air Force Base in England for three months (T.D.Y.). In November 1955, he was released from active duty in the Air Force and was in Inactive Reserve for three more years. Steve was employed in the oil industry and was a Rig Builder most of his life. He helped construct the "Glo Mar Explorer" owned by Howard Hughes that was used to lift a Russian Submarine. The "Glo Mar Explorer" had the largest hydraulic system on any ship in the world. As a Rig Builder, Steve traveled often, both foreign and domestic, including Japan (Sasebo), South America (Peru and Brazil), Cairo, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Kuwait, Norway, and Alaska. He retired in 1983. He was a faithful friend of Bill W., a devoted Catholic, and a die-hard Democrat that voted for Donald Trump. In his younger days, Steve loved to fish and hunt, and held a hunting lease in west Texas for deer and rabbits. After retirement, he was known for his fried turkeys, and his huge vegetable garden, which he truly loved; he gave away most of his produce. Steve had many sayings; three of his favorites being, "You can't keep doing the same thing over and over and expect different results;" "Don't let people live rent free in your mind;" and "Keep your dog out of that fight." In other words, mind your own business! He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Janet Romero Babineaux; daughter, Melinda Breaux and husband Randy of Youngsville; sons, Stephen I. Babineaux, II of New Iberia, and Buddy Babineaux of New Iberia; three grandchildren, Amanda Duplantis and husband Brennen of St. Martinville, Morgan Breaux of Youngsville, and Abigail Babineaux of New Iberia; a great-granddaughter, Ali Duplantis of St. Martinville; brother, Raywood Dugas and wife Mona of Lafayette; sisters, Thelma Boanca of Carencro, Shirley Griffin and husband Bud of Livingston, TX; sister-in-law, Jane Babineaux of Lafayette; and brother-in-law, Dale Campbell of Lafayette. He was preceded in death by father, Whitney Babineaux; mother, Lydia Dugas; brother, John Calvin Babineaux; and two sisters, Marella Vidrine and Myrna Campbell. Pallbearers will be Stephen I. Babineaux II, Buddy Babineaux, Randy Breaux, Bob Champagne, Wayne Hardin, and Matt Musso. Honorary pallbearers will be Raywood Dugas, Brennen Duplantis, and Dale Campbell. Pellerin Funeral Home of New Iberia, 502 Jefferson Terrace Blvd., New Iberia, LA 70560, (337-365-3331) is in charge of arrangements.