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302-478-7100 Wilmington & Hockessin, DE

Randall G. Blackmer

Randall G. Blackmer passed away peacefully on June 29, 2020, after a long life devoted to his family and community. He was a kind and generous man who always gave more than was expected of him. He quietly made friends wherever he went. He was a good man and will be greatly missed.

Born in 1930 to John and Blanche Blackmer, Randall grew up on the family farm in North Orange, Massachusetts. He attended Orange High School, playing right tackle on the football team and earning the Rensselaer Medal for Excellence in Mathematics and Science. He earned a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Massachusetts and a Master’s degree from the University of Delaware. While at UMass, he interviewed with a recruiter from DuPont, got a job in the Design Division, and moved to Wilmington in 1952. He spent his entire career with DuPont. In 1955, he married Miriam Corless; the two were devoted to each other for the rest of their lives.

As a youth in Massachusetts, Randall was active in the Grange. In Wilmington, he joined the Y’s Men at the Washington Street YMCA. After he married and settled into the community in North Wilmington and later in Hockessin, he was active in many civic organizations. A long-time member of Hillcrest-Bellefonte United Methodist Church, he served in many administrative capacities. He also gave freely of his engineering design expertise, including design of the ramps at the front and side entrances of the church building. His favorite project, though, was the family home in Hockessin, which he designed himself after his grandfather’s house in Massachusetts. Always the farmer, he spent much of his free time tending his garden and puttering around with his tractor and mowers.

Randall was predeceased by his beloved wife Miriam, his brother Wesley, and his sister Martha. He is survived by daughter Kathryn and husband Edward, daughter Gale, granddaughter Carol and husband Cart, granddaughter Colleen and husband Ian, and sister-in-law Nancy.

Funeral service will be private.

Memorial donations in Randall’s honor can be made to Hillcrest-Bellefonte United Methodist Church, 400 Hillcrest Avenue, Wilmington, DE 19809.

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Funeral Services

Funeral services will be private.

Condolences

    Donna Ferri-Healey writes,
    My sincerest sympathy to your entire family, Colleen. My love and prayers are with you.
    07/02/2020 04:33 pm
    Leslie Chubb writes,
    Dear Gale, So sorry for your loss. God Bless you and your family. Les
    07/03/2020 05:20 pm
    Peggy Deddens writes,
    Our heart felt sympathy to you all, Kathryn. We share your sadness at the loss of your dear father and are holding you close in prayer.
    07/03/2020 05:44 pm
    Bob Towe writes,
    Kathryn and Gale - many fond memories of your Dad and our days living in Walnut Hill. He was the best neighbor anyone could ask for. He was always there to help out my Dad and he was truly a wonderful man.
    07/04/2020 09:44 am
    Sally Paff lit a candle and writes,
    Gale, my sincerest sympathies on the loss of your Father. The last few years have not been the easiest for you and your family. With the passing of your Mother, and now your beloved Father whom I know you were so very close to. You always spoke so highly of both your parents, but I know your Father is particularly difficult because you really were your Father's Daughter. I am so glad that you and your sister, Kathryn, have each other and can be there for each other. There is nothing quite like family. Kathryn, Ed, Carol, Cart, and Colleen please know you, too, are in my prayers and I extend my sympathies. Gale and I have been friends for years and we belong to this little group in our community of faith whereby we get together on Tuesday's to drink coffee, sometimes wine, share our thoughts, catch up on what's going on in our lives, laugh, eat, and on some occasions attempt to solve the world's problems (knowing we can't quite get there). Gale we love you, we mourn with you and we will be there for you. Life is never easy, and the passing of our loved ones is probably the most difficult thing we must endure. Your Father had an amazing, good, and well lived life and he is reunited once again with his beloved Miriam and that is such a wonderful thing to reflect on. He is at peace and I pray you and your family will be comforted by the many memories of your Father. Much love, Sally.
    07/05/2020 07:21 am
    Sharon Leonard writes,
    Gale, so sorry for your loss. I have many fond memories of both your dad and mom. He was the first person to welcome me to Walnut Hill back in 1995. When my daughter was born a year later, they commented that she was the second Katherine Ann of Walnut Hill (and continued to refer to her that way for many years). When selling Girl Scout cookies, and later delivering them, we always stopped at their house last because we would sit and talk with them for an hour or two. We all enjoyed those visits !
    07/05/2020 10:59 am
    Bob and Jinny Squire writes,
    Katherine Ann and Gale, So sorry for your loss we have fond memories of both your dad and mom at HBUMC . Bob/Jinny
    07/05/2020 12:53 pm
    Dee lit a candle and writes,
    My heart and prayers go out to the Blackmer family. I had the pleasure of caring for Mr Blackmer and his late wife, Miriam Blackmer. My memory would be of our long talks, and I learned a lot from him. I would always try to disguise my voice when I entered his room, but he'll always say, "That sounds like Dee." There was no tricking him. To Gale and Kathryn, which I had the pleasure of meeting, your dad was one of a kind, and he will be missed.
    07/05/2020 02:54 pm

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