Robert Marion Blackstone

Robert ‘Bob’ Marion Blackstone, 91, passed away on May 27, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. He was born on August 11, 1926 in Cleveland, Ohio to the late Harry Blackstone and Eileen Loffer Blackstone. After spending his early youth in Baltimore, MD, he started his adventures in life by riding his bicycle from Baltimore to DeGraff, OH when he was only 12 years old. In 1943, he left school to join the Navy where he served for 3 years as an airplane mechanic, then as a baker on a minesweeper clearing harbors in Japan after the war. After his service, he spent a couple of years trying several different options including being a cab driver, undertaker/embalmer, and air conditioning work before settling into his career in auto service. While working at a garage in Orlando, he created and patented a tool for removing distributors. He went on to sell Sun Diagnostic equipment and then taught auto mechanics at the high school and technical college level. He retired to the mountains of North Georgia with his late wife Evelyn where they spent time listening to bluegrass. He was a good provider to his family and a good role model for his children. Bob is survived by his children Ralph Marvin Blackstone (Kathy Blackstone), Robert Bruce Blackstone (Gretchen Blackstone), Russell Marion Blackstone, Patricia ‘Patty’ Sue Pickering (Barry Pickering) and Richard Byron Blackstone (Beth Blackstone) along with his 12 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. Arrangements have been entrusted to Family Funeral Care in Orlando, FL. A graveside service with military honors is set to take place on Saturday, June 23, 2018 at 10:00am at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Gotha, FL. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bob’s name to Cornerstone Hospice, www.cornerstonehospice.org, Toll Free at (888) 728-6234.