Dale J. Blackwell

Dale Joseph Blackwell was born April 13, 1915 to Oliver Ernest (OE) Blackwell and Oleva Golden (Cook) Blackwell near Elkton in Central Missouri, and died at The Forum of Knightsbridge Retirement Community on Friday, May 14, 2011 at the age of 96. He and his sister, Nina Ruth, earned their elementary education at Concord, a one-room rural school where they walked or rode horses. At age 14 Dale professed faith in Christ and became a member of the local Baptist Church. He and his wife, Rheva, became active members of a Southern Baptist Church wherever they lived. Both held positions and served on committees of the church. Dale’s service included more than 60 years as Deacon and extended periods as Sunday School Superintendent, finance and other committees. Dale and Rheva were both members of the Lane Avenue Baptist Church at the time of their deaths. Another major change at age 14 was moving with his family from the farm to the town of Weaubleau so Dale could attend high school. Good grades earned a tie for high school valedictorian and 12 years later a baccalaureate degree summa cum laude. While teaching at Northwest Missouri State University, Dale attended summer school at Missouri University, Columbia, until he had earned two master degrees: Master of Arts in Accounting and a Master of Science in School Administration. Later he received a two–year leave to teach at the University of Missouri and completed a Doctor of Business and School Administration. He also received a lifetime membership in honor societies, including Pi Omega Pi (Bus. Ed), Kappa Mu Epsilon (Math) and Delta Pi Epsilon (Bus. Admin). He also maintained a membership in professional organizations; local, state and national teacher organizations, state and national accounting societies, and local, state and national real estate organizations. Teaching was Dale’s major occupation (45 years)-40 years in Missouri and five at Franklin and Ohio State Universities after moving to Columbus on July 1, 1976. As a second occupation, Dale was a Realtor for 25 years. With excellent help by Rheva, and by employing his good students, Dale found time to engage in other work and activities he enjoyed. This included 60 years of preparing bookkeeping systems and tax returns for businesses, farmers and individuals, the management and operation of a teacher credit union, the management and work on their farms with cattle and hay operations. Although limited by Dale’s summer teaching, Dale and Rheva enjoyed travel and visited or stayed at beautiful places including Hawaii, the Bahamas, a privately-owned villa in Florida, and a time-share in Vail, Colorado. Both were champion trout fishermen in Missouri and were successful with deep-sea fishing off the coast of Oregon. His dear wife preceded him in death February 19, 2007. He is survived by their son, Dr. Roger Dale Blackwell, a granddaughter, Rebecca Rheva Blackwell, in New York City, a grandson, Christian D. (Frances) Blackwell, a teacher in the Columbus City Schools, a great-grandson, Jude, two great-granddaughters, Josette and Lindsey. Dale is also survived by a brother and three sisters in Missouri: Danny Jo, Beverly Sue (David) Dickey, Icel Lee (Elzie) Richter, and Nina Ruth Miller; also sister and brother-in-law, Darlene and Dean Hunt and loving nieces, nephews, and cousins. Family will receive friends on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 from 6-8pm at Schoedinger Northwest Chapel, 1740 Zollinger Road, Columbus, Ohio 43221; and again on Wednesday, May 18, 2011 from 12-1pm at Lane Avenue Baptist Church, 1610 W. Lane Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43221, where funeral services will begin at 1pm; Dr. Wayne Nicholson officiating. Interment will take place on Saturday at Robinson Cemetery in Collins, MO. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to Lane Avenue Baptist Church or the Blackwell Alumni Scholarship Fund, Weaubleau Schools, 509 North Center, Weaubleau, MO 65774. Please visit www.schoedinger.com to send condolences and share memories.