Virginia Joan Blackwell of St. Louis, MO, and Graham, NC, passed away Saturday, January 20, 2018, at the age of 88. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Arthur (Art) Blackwell, her brothers Jim Gantz and Jack Gantz, and her son William Arthur Blackwell Jr. (Skip). She is survived by her brother Paul Gantz; her son Paul Blackwell; her daughter, Sharon E. Bentch; her grandchildren, Elizabeth Gardner, William Arthur Blackwell III (Bill), Rebecca Presley, Jennifer J. Floyd, Heather Hopkins, Jennifer Aubrey, Nicholas Blackwell, Kyle Blackwell, Cody Blackwell, and Alyssa Blackwell; and 7 great-grandchildren.
Friends and family across the country will remember Virginia as an energetic presence who took great joy in her friends, relatives, and neighbors. Her Seventh-Day Adventist faith was important to her, and she had been vegetarian for decades. She bowled a great game, loved her pets, and spent her happiest hours baking. Virginia took care of everyone, and she’ll be missed.
There will be no public visitation; a graveside service will be held at 1:00 on Monday, January 29, 2018, at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery when Virginia is laid to rest with her beloved husband, Art.
