Larry Lee BABB 

CMSGT (USAF Ret.) Born April 7, 1948. Larry Babb passed away on October 19, 
2008, after a valiant and spirited battle with cancer and heart complications. He died at 
home with wife Dana, daughter Jennifer, grandson Troy and longtime family friend 
Suzanne B. at his bedside. Chief Master Seargent Larry L. Babb was Chief of Logistics 
for Det 1 AF Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC) when he retired from 
the Air Force in 1986 after proudly providing 20 years of continuous service. Noted 
among his many awards were the Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, 
the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Air Force 
Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device and four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Force 
Good Conduct Medal with one Silver Oak Leaf Cluster, the National Defense Service 
Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with one Silver and one Bronze Service Star, the Air 
Force Longevity Service Award with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Small Arms Expert 
Markmanship Ribbon, the Republic of Vietnam Gallentry Cross with Palm Device, and 
the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. While the military and service to his country 
occupied Larry's early life, dog training, hunting and fishing fulfilled him to the end. Larry 
and wife Dana began what became a lifetime commitment to teaching people to train 
their dogs in 1974. They trained in Western Europe at the Ramstein and Vogelweh 
Military Recreation Centers in West Germany, and upon returning stateside taught in 
New Mexico (1979 to 1987) and then Washington when they returned to Larry's 
hometown of Renton in 1988 after he formally retired from his military service. 
Paws-Abilitiesâ?"Every Dog Has Paws-Abilitiesâ?"became the venture of the Greater 
Seattle Area's only husband and wife dog training team. Larry and Dana offered training 
classes through Renton Technical College, the Humane Society and SPCA in Bellevue 
and the City of Renton Parks & Recreation Department. In 1993, they opened the 
doors of Paws-Abilities Training Center, first in a modest space in a Tukwila business 
park, and then in an 8,500+ sq. ft. location that made them the Pacific Northwest's 
newest and largest dog training facility in 1997. Larry and Dana's 
begin-with-a-common-sense - approach -to-dog-trai ning philosophy has resulted in a 
following of people and their dogs that number in the thousands in the Greater Puget 
Sound Area alone. Larry's love and respect for dogs and his knowledge of canine 
behavior made him an effective trainer with an uncanny knack for communicating with 
dogs, and more importantly, with their humans. He had a way of combining serious and 
innovative instruction with doses of dry, and often wry, humor to make dog training fun 
and effective. From the dogs you helped train:We will miss you, Uncle Larry! From the 
rest of us: Your departure is a truly sad and tremendous loss and you will be greatly 
missed. We will always remember, however, your deep and uniquely resonant voice, 
commanding: Forward! . . . . . .and Praise a Gooooooood Dog!!!" Larry is survived by 
his wife, business partner and best friend, Dana, daughter Jennifer Ramen (Scott), 
grandchildren Samantha and Troy, and siblings Susan Babb and Steve Babb (Susan). 
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Larry Babb Care Fund at any Key 
Bank. A Celebration of Larry's Life will be held at Paws-Abilities Training Center on 
Sunday, November 2, 2008, starting at noon; details at www.everydoghas.com. 

Published in the NWsource on 10/26/2008