Lowell G. Blackwell, 82, won his final battle with the body on Thursday May 26th, and opened his eyes to eternity for the first time. Lowell was born Nov 29th, 1933 in Waynesville, Missouri to Dean and Marie Blackwell. He grew up with three brothers, Dean (Maxine), Tom (Pat), and Mike (Carol), and one sister, Bonnie (T.O.) Hughes. Lowell met Margaret (Pierce) in high school and married her on June 14, 1952. He and Margaret were married for 63 years.
He had an amazingly interesting life that not only crossed the country but included a host of careers. He started as a roughneck in the west Texas oil fields, then moved on to engineering for Boeing Aircraft in Kansas, where he also worked part time as a police officer. God then called Lowell into the ministry and he moved his young family to Pasadena, California. He obtained his Bachelors in Theology from Ambassador College and began serving as a pastor in Glendale, CA. Lowell and Margaret served in Glendale and Bakersfield, CA, Bismarck and Fargo ND, and Dayton OH, before moving to Indianapolis and returning to engineering. In 1978, Lowell moved to Warsaw, IN and began a long stint with DePuy Orthopedics as a biomedical engineer. He received numerous awards and recognition for his efforts and commitment to the industry. In 1995, he retired from engineering and God drew him back into the ministry. He served as a pastor in Plymouth and Mishawaka, IN, and then finished in Springfield and Rolla, MO.
In 2003, Lowell and Margaret moved to Pendleton, IN and enjoyed their retirement spending time with kids and grandkids, building wonderful friendships at Pendleton Christian Church, and visited their six children scattered around the country. During all of these years, they traveled the world seeing places like Australia, New Zealand, England, France, Israel, the Caribbean and Mexico.
Lowell was an avid fisherman, a private pilot, a high school referee in basketball, baseball, and volleyball, a competitive card player, a great softball pitcher, and really enjoyed playing dominoes. He spent his last years day-trading on the stock market, and made it his final career.
He loved watching the Cubs play baseball on TV, cheering on his grandkids at sporting events while correcting the refs, and hanging out at his kids’ homes.
Lowell is survived by his wife (Margaret), and six children, Lowell Jr. (Suzy), David (June), Susan Endres (Gary), Marcy DeShong (Morris), Tim (Susan), and Jim (Pam). They have 16 grandkids and 20 great grandkids!
A life celebration is being held at 5:00 pm, June 10th at Pendleton Christian Church. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be given to support Adventure Camp in Pendleton, a local youth camp which Lowell loved. Donations can be sent to Adventure Camp – Pendleton Christian Church, PO Box 376, Pendleton, IN, 46064.
Bonnie Fredericks says
I had no idea of Lowell’s passing until recently. I will forever treasure the memories I shared with him…..our sessions at the Fall Creek Retirement Home….and we sang “Count Your Many Blessings” (one of his favorites?) and “How Great Thou Art.” The impressions left on my heart will forever be. All the Blackwell family, you are in my prayers!
pat says
It was back in April of 1971 that I met Mr Blackwell and Gary Castle at Mr. Hanson’s house in South Fargo, ND. He was a minister in Worldwide Church of God. I was 23 then and very impressionable. Mr Blackwell did make an impression on me as they quizzed me to see if I had “the right stuff” to become a member of “the church”. I did. I was female. the Church had more men and hardly any single women so they invited me to come to be with the church on the next Sabbath. (They really did quiz me to see how I was doing attitude wise. If they detected in me a attitude of being “stuck-up” or a “know-it-all”, I am pretty sure they wouldn’t have asked me to come that next Sabbath). I did go and I met a young man who was interested in me even though I wasn’t a “raving beauty” I was baptized in Nov. and then in 1972, we were married and awhile later we were a family (Duane and I and 3 wonderful children). Soon our youngest will be a grandmother, and we will be—> [ Great Grand Parents] WOW! What Awesome Blessings we’ve been given.
pat says
I am so glad Lowell was a minister in Fargo, ND at that time. But then soon after I came into the truth, he was assigned to another area and we were assigned another minister. So then I didn’t really get to know him and his wife very well. I know I will be seeing him again in the KOG, when Jesus Christ returns to this earth. What an AWESOME TIME that will be !
from, Pat S