Charles F. Blackwood

We are sad to tell you of the loss of Charles Blackwood. Charles was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, May 31, 1936, the eldest child of F. G. Blackwood and Dola Pacey Blackwood. Charles attended Gatewood Elementary School, Taft Junior High School, Classen High School, and the University of Oklahoma.

Charles was never bored a day in his life. He was a geological engineer, an army veteran, an avid golfer, reader, and painter. He especially loved good food and traveling. He had a great curiosity and interest in many things before they were popular, including space travel, electric cars, archeology, hieroglyphics, and models of trains, planes, and cars. Before his junior year in university, he and two friends attempted to drive from Oklahoma City to Tierra del Fuego to visit archaeological sites, but only made it to Lima, Peru due to a change in government. His enthusiasm for history and other cultures was infectious, increasing while he lived in Heidelberg, Germany, in the sixties and traveled widely in Europe and throughout the world.

He was a lifelong learner with a probing critical intelligence open to new experiences. When he thought the evidence merited it, he did not hesitate to change his ideas on religion, politics, and environmental issues. He was a friend to people from all walks of life, always kind, thoughtful, and generous. His deep optimism lifted the spirits of those who knew him.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Carol Keller Blackwood, whom he started dating as a senior in high school, his son Charles Robert Blackwood and wife Jennifer, his daughter Christa Blackwood, and Brian Cross, his 6 grandchildren: Michael Blackwood and wife Rachel, Jennifer Blackwood Ellsworth and husband Winthrop, Stephanie Blackwood and partner Justin Peterson, Pacey Blackwood, Cooper Blackwood Cross, Cecil Blackwood Cross, his 5 great grandchildren: Havin Blackwood, Keller Blackwood, Madeline Ellsworth, Evelyn Ellsworth, and Calliope Peterson, and his sister Sue Blackwood Rainey and husband Reuben, and their children: Mark and Sarah Rainey.

Memorial service will be at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, Oklahoma City, on Saturday March 14th at 2:00 pm.

Memorials may be given to World Neighbors, 5600 N. May Avenue #160, Oklahoma City, OK 73112, or a charity of your choice.