Obituary of Virginia Elaine Blackford

Virginia Elaine Blackford passed away surrounded by her family on February 6, 2017, just one week shy of 92 years on February 13. She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl, her parents, Urban Blonde and Pearl H. Blonde, and a sister, Donna Blonde. She is survived by her seven children, David (Cynthia), JoAnn (Robert Day), Gerald (Bert Mallais), Kenneth, Martin (Patricia), Paul (Laurie), and Bill (Xin); her grandchildren, Beau, Brook, Jessica, Christopher, Paul, Mac, and Katy Ann; her great grandchildren Jaiden, Cailin, and Keira, and her youngest sister, Beverly Bowlds. She had a long, full life, born in the roaring twenties (1925) came of age during the Great Depressiongraduated early from high school and trained as an x-ray technologist at Blain Hospital in Detroit served as a WAC at Percy Jones Hospital during WW2discharged and continued her x-ray career on the West Coast where she learned to flyreturned to Michigan to raise a large family and subsequently returning to her career in x-ray. Elaine was an avid reader, an excellent cook, and like to paint and play bridge. Later in life she enjoyed swimming a half mile at the local YMCA several times a week. Elaine spent years volunteering for hospice while in retirement. A memorial gathering is planned for the family this spring and her ashes will be interred in the veteran's section at Clinton Grove Cemetery, next to her loving husband, Carl. She will be in our hearts and everyday thoughts with loving memories.