KENNETH WAYNE BLACKWELL
Kenneth Wayne "Hawk" Blackwell, 73, husband of Kay Geddings Blackwell, died on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019, at his home.
Born in Sumter, he was a son of the late William Lionel Blackwell and Rena Ward Blackwell. Mr. Blackwell served in the U.S. Army and was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He retired from Santee Print Works after 42 years of service. He enjoyed fishing and NASCAR. He was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include his wife of 29 years; three daughters, Paulette Ardis (Will) of Sumter, Deborah Reynolds (Travis) of Mountain Home, Idaho, and Brittany Blackwell (Eric Holloman) of Sumter; two stepdaughters, Rebecca Elmore of Sumter and Lisa Buckels (Robert Bedard) of Dalzell; two granddaughters that he reared, Tristan Jade Buckels and Desiny Clear Buckels; eight additional grandchildren; one great-grandchild; two brothers, James Roger Blackwell (Sue) of Manning and David Blackwell of Sumter; two sisters, Carol Brzyski of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Rachel Drose (Don) of Manning; a sister-in-law, Carole Blackwell of Sumter; a brother-in-law, Jerome Geddings (Jeff) of Dallas, Texas; and his special canine companion, Bella.
He was preceded in death by a brother, William L. Blackwell Jr; a sister, Nancy Blackwell; a son-in-law, T.J. Buckels; and a special friend, Sam Goins.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. today in the Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home Chapel with Chaplain Mark Payne officiating. Burial with military honors will be at Evergreen Memorial Park cemetery.
Pallbearers will be David Blackwell, Dale Jones, David W. Elmore Jr., Dustin Elmore, Woody Elmore, Mike Wallace and Donnie Drose.
Honorary pallbearers will be Will Ardis, Robert Bedard, Eric Holloman and Fredrick "Doc" Gibson.
The family will receive friends at the home.
The family would like to express a special thanks to Lynn Olson and the staff of Agap Hospice for the care they provided.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital, 950 W. Faris Road, Greenville, SC 29605.
Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.