Founded in 1905, Davis–Babcock Funeral Home has been at the same location since 1932.

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Our History

Leon Prentice (L.P.) Davis attended the Adelbert College of Western Reserve University in Cleveland and received his professional diploma in 1904 from the Massachusetts Embalming School in Columbus. Mr. Davis set about in business with a new "Sayers and Scovill hearse, a casket wagon, and a good team and stock of caskets" on February 20, 1905. His first shingle was hung on a storefront in the Austin Building in downtown Willoughby and, after several years, later settled at our current location on Clark Avenue in 1932. In those earliest years, furniture was sold as an additional source of income.

In 1906, he married Jessie Langshaw and in 1907, their son, Roger Van Gorder Davis was born. As the business prospered, Jessie became his helpmate, and was granted her own funeral director's license in the 1930s for her practical experience. Roger joined the business in 1928 after earning his diploma from the Cleveland School of Embalming. His wife, Frances Shearer, a registered nurse, began assisting in the business as well.

L.P. Davis eventually retired, and Roger and his wife, Fran, acquired the firm. In 1967, their youngest son, Charles Roger Davis received his diploma from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and joined the family business, along with a classmate from Cincinnati, John Richard "J.R." Vaughan. In 1979, Charles acquired the business from his parents, becoming the third generation to own and operate the funeral home.

In October 1987, Mitchell W. Babcock, a native of Lake County, joined the staff as a funeral director and embalmer, having also earned his diploma from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. Having no family interested in succeeding him as the fourth generation, Charles elected to sell the business in 2006, and Mr. Babcock quietly took the helm, having been a member of the Davis "family" for more than 19 years.

On February 13, 2007, just one week shy of the beginning of the 103rd year, the business was officially sold to Mitchell Babcock and his family. Although the name on the shingle has changed, L.P. Davis' values still resonate today: "No person can operate a successful business alone. He must have loyal friends, and we have been so fortunate to have made many in our years. These we value more than any material gain we may have had."