Thomas "Bob" Blackman

Thomas "Bob" Blackman, age 89, of Island City, died Tuesday at his home. A funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, February 4, 2008 at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church. Interment will follow at the Island City Cemetery. Arrangements are entrusted to Daniels~Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, 1502 7th Street, La Grande. Those who wish may make contributions in his memory to the GRH Hospice.

Mr. Blackman was born on May 12, 1918, the son of Thomas Houston Blackman in Walla Walla, Washington. The family moved to Island City when he was 2 and he graduated from La Grande High School with the class of 1936. On August 31, 1939 he married Ethel Margaret Murray in La Grande. Like his father before him, Bob worked for the La Grande Concrete Pipe Co. in Island City for 35 years. He then went to work for the Boise Cascade particle board plant until retiring in 1987.

Mr. Blackman served his country with the United States Army in the signal corps. He was honorably discharged as a Staff Sgt. On November 29, 1945. He was a member of Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church and the Eagles and Elks Lodges. He played softball for several years when he was younger and was an avid fan of the sport. He enjoyed the outdoors, fishing, boating, hunting, camping and working in his yard. He also enjoyed traveling.

Survivors include his wife, Ethel Blackman of Island City; children and their spouses, Gregory and Nancy Blackman of La Grande, Scott and Louise Blackman of Louisville, Kentucky, Jan and Pat Callaghan of Milwaukie, Oregon and Kristi and Joe Richter of Bend; nine grandchildren; fourteen great grandchildren; sister, Clara Huff of La Grande, sister and brother-in-law, Patricia and Buck Hardwick, both of La Grande; numerous nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by brother, Levi Blackman, brother and sister-in-law, Walter and Phyllis Blackman, sister and brother-in-law, Kathleen and Delbert ‘Bud" Sanderson and brother-in-law, Ford Huff.