Robert E. Blackstone "Bob"
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Bob & Gay's Rancho.. Not...So.... Grande
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Robert E. Blackstone
by his daughter Vicki Blackstone Kane
As far back as I can remember my father has always loved children. When I was 4 years old he would give all the kids on our block a slow ride in the back of his pick up truck everyday after getting off work. To this day, he still has a special love for kids. He enjoys seeing their smiling faces. He is a great father, a great grandfather, and a great, great grandfather. Everyone that knows him respects and likes him. He is always thinking of helping others.
All of my childhood days, we lived overseas. In Colombia & Venezuela my family learned to speak Spanish. My father loved to go site seeing and loved to go to museums. We enjoyed learning about other cultures. I felt very fortunate to be able to travel all over the world several times.
During my adolescence we lived in Saudi Arabia. My father was always a good provider as well as a friend to both, my sister, Kathy and I. He bought the family a boat so that we could go fishing on the weekends as a family. He bought us scuba gear and we got our scuba diving license. We would also go around head hunting in the deserts.
My father has always been a "handy-man". He has always been gifted at being able to see what needs to be done, build and construct the needed gadget, and get the job done while everyone else is still daydreaming about it. He is not one to sit and talk too long. He is the one that gets the job done. When we were living overseas people were always asking for his help and he was always willing to help others, especially those less fortunate. When he first went to work for Aramco in Saudi Arabia, he was a mechanic on an oil rig. Before he retired he had been promoted and retired with the pay of a petroleum engineer. He had the respect of all that knew him. My Mother and Dad settled in Huntsville, Texas. He is very healthy and works everyday rain or shine.
My father has strong family values. He is close to his sisters and brothers even if he did not grow up around them. He was born 2nd to the youngest child of Laura and Benjamin.
My father is a hard worker. He knew hard times growing up. When he was 13 years old he lost his father. Because the older brothers had already left the nest, he was the man of the house. He installed the first electricity and plumbing into the house on Inker Street in Houston. He also put a new roof on the house. He quit school in the 9th grade and went to work. He grew up during the depression days. He was always working on old cars fixing them up. He got a job in a park working on roller coasters. He had to take the bus to work everyday. From there he went to school at night to become a diesel mechanic. He was drafted and spent two years in California where I was born. My mother and he married during a leave home to Houston on July 26, 1952. When I was 3 years old he landed a job in Venezuela. At that time, he had to take a train to New Orleans and fly out. Our family had an adventurous life being able to travel all over.
No matter what venture my sister and I are embarking on my father and mother have always been there for us. They give us mental support, financial support, and physical support whenever possible. It is hard to tell my father "No" when he and my mother both have done so much for us.
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Mr. Robert E ( Bob) Blackstone, 83, of Huntsville, Texas passed away Sunday morning December 22, 2013 at his residence surrounded by his family. He was born May 16, 1930 in Florey, Texas to Benjamin & Laura Blackstone.
Mr. Blackstone was a longtime resident of Huntsville, Texas. and a member of the Fellowship of Huntsville Church. He served his country in the US Marine Corp. from 1952 - 1954 and was a Mason. He was a Master electrician, plumber, carpenter & mechanic. He is survived by his wife Gay Nell Blackstone of Huntsville, TX. 2 Daughters Vicki Kane & husband Greg of Killeen, TX and Kathryn Blackstone of Huntsville, TX. 2 Grandsons, Jason Dyches and wife Loretta of Huntsville, TX and Aaron Blackstone of San Antonio, TX. Great Grandchildren Trisian, Brandon and Ashlyn Dyches. He was one of 13 children with one sister, Josie Bailey of Austin, TX surviving him along with many nieces & nephews. Please come and celebrate his life with us at 10:00 AM Saturday December 28, 2013 at Fellowship of Huntsville Church with Pastor C.F. Hazelwood officiation in keeping with his wishes he will be cremated at Brooks Crematory in Huntsville, TX. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Parkinson's Foundation or ALTUS Hospice.
Mr. Blackstone was a longtime resident of Huntsville, Texas. and a member of the Fellowship of Huntsville Church. He served his country in the US Marine Corp. from 1952 - 1954 and was a Mason. He was a Master electrician, plumber, carpenter & mechanic. He is survived by his wife Gay Nell Blackstone of Huntsville, TX. 2 Daughters Vicki Kane & husband Greg of Killeen, TX and Kathryn Blackstone of Huntsville, TX. 2 Grandsons, Jason Dyches and wife Loretta of Huntsville, TX and Aaron Blackstone of San Antonio, TX. Great Grandchildren Trisian, Brandon and Ashlyn Dyches. He was one of 13 children with one sister, Josie Bailey of Austin, TX surviving him along with many nieces & nephews. Please come and celebrate his life with us at 10:00 AM Saturday December 28, 2013 at Fellowship of Huntsville Church with Pastor C.F. Hazelwood officiation in keeping with his wishes he will be cremated at Brooks Crematory in Huntsville, TX. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Parkinson's Foundation or ALTUS Hospice.