Obituary of Robert J. Blackwell

Robert J. Bob Blackwell, 60, died at 9:05PM in Bedford Regional Medical Center on Thursday, August 28, 2003, following a courageous battle with cancer. He was born November 20, 1942, in Bedford, Indiana, to the late Robert William Blackwell and Edith Marjorie (Wray) Blackwell. After growing up in the Bedford, Indiana area, he graduated from Needmore High School in 1960. After moving to Monon, Indiana, Bob served for a brief time in the Indiana National Guard and continued to work and raise his family for 30 years in Monticello, Indiana, with Diane L. Templeton of Monon, Indiana. Following his divorce in 1997, he moved back to Bedford to care for his ailing mother, who died in 1998. Throughout his life, Bob had many professions. He was a supervisor for the RCA Corporation for 20 years, was a real estate agent for 15 years, and was the inventor of J.R. Madds Million Dollar Seasoning Sauce. Bob was a Jaycee from 1969 to 1978, serving as the Indiana state president from 1976 to 1977, and as the national vice president from 1977 to 1978. He was a Freemason, a member of the American Legion, and one-time president of the Monticello Shriners Association. Bob also served as the president of the Board of Trustees for the Monticello United Methodist church. Always a sports fan, Bob was an avid golfer, a life-long Chicago Cubs and Indiana University basketball fan, and a member of the John Purdue club. Bob is survived by a son and his wife, Brent M. and Audrey L. Blackwell, of Noblesville, Indiana; a daughter and her husband, Kelly L. and Michael R. Smolek, of Idaville, Indiana; two sisters, Janet K. Sowders and her husband Edwin of Avoca, Indiana, and Lena Marie Hawkins formerly of Salem, Indiana; and one brother, William Bill Blackwell, of Bedford, Indiana; as well as several nieces and nephews, numerous cousins, and a grandchild expected in March of 2004. Funeral Information Following a private burial at the Mount Pleasant cemetery, the public is invited memorial service for Bob at 6:00 PM on Monday, September 8th, at Day and Carter Mortuary, 1133 Lincoln Avenue, Bedford, Indiana with Reverend John Walls of Dayton United Methodist Church officiating. The family will receive friends from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Monday, September 8th at Day & Carter Mortuary. The family asks that friends consider memorial contributions be made to The American Cancer Society.