John "Base" Wilkinson Blackwell

Base was born in Raleigh on February 15, 1937, the son of Rosser Ira “Jack” Blackwell and Ellen Wilkinson Blackwell. A lifelong Raleigh resident, he graduated from Needham Broughton High School and was a leader in the planning of many class reunions. He was a veteran of the Marine Corps Reserve and spent his working life in mortgage banking and real estate, first with Cameron-Brown Company and subsequently as a partner of Landt-Blackwell Company.

A devoted husband, father, grandfather, and godfather, he became an enthusiastic gardener and was a tireless booster for all things Raleigh and North Carolina and a steadfast N.C. State fan in good times and bad. A regular visitor in his retirement years to the Farmers' Market, Lowes, art and antique stores, and the Players’ Retreat, he loved meeting new people and converting strangers to friends.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Eleanor Evans Blackwell; two sons, John Wilkinson Blackwell, Jr. and wife Michelle and David Oliver Blackwell and wife Linda, both of Raleigh; sister Louise Blackwell Ledbetter of Raleigh; brother William "Bill" Blackwell and wife Liz of Greensboro; and two grandsons, Benjamin Oliver and Andrew Foster Blackwell.

The family will receive friends at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary's Street, Raleigh, Thursday from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

A memorial service will be held Friday, July 6th at 2:00 p.m. at Hayes Barton United Methodist Church,

2209 Fairview Road Raleigh.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Habitat for Humanity of Wake County, 2420 Raleigh Blvd, Raleigh 27604, or to the charity of one’s choice.