Robert Wayne Blackford

Announcing of the Promotion of Robert Wayne Blackford to Guardian Angel

Robert “Bob” Wayne Blackford has made the transition from life on Mother Earth to reunite with the love of his life, Margie, in the Sweet Hereafter on August 4, 2022. Bob graced us with his presence on May 16, 1941 in Indianapolis, IN to Charles and Helen Blackford.

Bob attended Arsenal Technical High School and described himself as The Fonz of Indianapolis. A force to be reckoned with in everything he set his mind to– even as a child Bob was a budding entrepreneur. Throughout his lifetime he wore many hats including being the owner of a pizza joint and a chain of Clark gas stations. He was a Conductor for the Conrail train company retiring in 1983 and eventually retired again from the Brownsburg Community School System. Throughout his entire life, he never met a stranger and loved chatting with EVERYONE which made him a successful business owner and leader.

Bob met Margie in their high school years as a rebel who loved drag racing and cars falling in love with the good Catholic girl. Bob knew immediately that Margie was the one for him and after 3 dates they were married on October 24, 1959. Bob loved Margie in that Hollywood type of love. He always made sure that she was never without. He wanted to give her so many anniversary gifts that he married her again on February 14, 1960 after her family did not approve of the original marriage outside of the Church. Together, they built a life that others did not believe they could achieve. Bob and Margie had 3 boys (Steve, Jeff, and Mark) and a collection of animals throughout their loving marriage.

If you were to join Bob on a day in retirement, you could be in for a variety of activities. You could begin the day feeding the ducks at the pond, to tinkering in the garage, to ending the day watching a movie from the expansive movie collection from the movie room. If you drove up the long drive to the ever-changing colored house they lived in for over 40 years, you may find him mowing the grass or working on a new project that Margie conned him into. No matter what, he loved being in nature and talking about the natural world.

Bob will be missed by his three boys, Steve (Carrie), Jeff, and Mark Blackford, 13 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren, friends, and family members. He had such an infectious personality that he will live on and be missed by future generations. He was welcomed to the Sweet Hereafter by his parents, his loving wife, and other human & furry family members.

The visitation and service for Bob will be held at Indiana Funeral Care in Indianapolis, IN on August 19, 2022 with a private family burial at Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, if you are inclined, please make a tribute donation in Bob’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association (https://act.alz.org/). Bob spent the later part of his life impacted by the symptoms of Dementia. While diagnosed with this disease, his light still showed through with every interaction.