Richard Blackstone

BRASELTON, Ga. -- Richard Blackstone passed away Tuesday, June 5, 2018, at Northeast Georgia Hospital in Braselton, due to complication from double pneumonia ultimately affecting his heart.

He was born in Caribou, Maine, and grew up in both Freeport, Maine, and Antioch, California. He earned a bachelor of science degree from San Jose State in San Jose, California, and a master's degree in education from Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, New Mexico.

He taught math and science in New Mexico, Oregon and Missouri. He later worked at Do It Best Corp. near Cape Girardeau.

He loved teaching summers as a volunteer at a Royal Ambassador Church Camp near Alamogordo, New Mexico.

Margaret Jones became his wife of 49 years when they met and married in Socorro, New Mexico. Most of their married life was spent living and raising their two sons on 16 acres near Delta.

He and Margaret were passionate about travel and being active. Richard had the opportunity to travel nationally and internationally.

In 2014 Richard and Margaret moved to a retirement community in Hoschton, Georgia, where Richard enjoyed singing with the Village Singers Club, studying with the men's Bible study group, exercising in the gym and pool and playing croquet.

Richard was a very active member of Celebration Church, where he was a part of the choir and loved hearing Mike preach the good news of salvation through Christ and living for Jesus. Living out his Christian life was important to him. He impacted everybody from his parents to his grandchildren, as well as friends and acquaintances.

Richard is survived by his wife, Margaret Blackstone; two sons, Christopher and Chandler Blackstone; and five grandchildren.

There will be a graveside memorial at 10 a.m. July 7 at Kenyon Cemetery in Delta.

Announcement courtesy of Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee, Missouri.