Velma Rae Blackwell, 78, of Winona Lake, died at 3:41 p.m. Feb. 11, 2011, in Kosciusko Community Hospital, Warsaw.
She was born Dec 11, 1932, in DuBois, Pa., to Harry and Helen Hepfner Reasinger. On Sept. 6, 1954, she married Walter Emmanuel Blackwell, who died Feb. 17, 2010.
Living in Kosciusko County since 1951, she was a homemaker and attended Grace College, Winona Lake. She was a member of Church of the Brethren, Winona Lake, and the U.S. Practicing Shooting Association; a life member of Warsaw Rifle and Pistol Club; and was a NRA National Matches stat officer. She was fond of cats, playing bingo and Andrea Lieu violin music.
Surviving are five children: Sharon Wilhite, David (and spouse Cathy) Blackwell and John (and spouse Kelly) Blackwell, all of Warsaw; Stephenie Charles, Winona Lake; and Diana Williams, Fort Wayne; a twin sister, Thelma Nelson, Savannah, Ga.; a sister, Dorothy Smith, DuBois; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by seven brothers and sisters.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, 2290 Provident Court, Warsaw, with Chaplain Denny Bollenbacher officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw.
Calling is from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
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Condolences may be sent via mchattonsadlerfuneralchapels.com
