October 1, 1930 – April 8, 2025. A longtime resident of Ohio, Roger was born in Zanesville, and resided in the Cincinnati area for the latter decades of his life. He graduated from Ohio Northern University with a degree in Pharmacy and was a registered Pharmacist for many years. Always interested in working with young people, he started a second career in education, becoming an Assistant in Administration at Glen Este Middle School, Clermont County, and retiring in 2013. Roger passed away in Greensboro, NC, his place of residence for the past two years.
A lifelong Episcopalian, Roger functioned in many capacities of leadership at St. James Episcopal Church, Zanesville, Ohio and St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Terrace Park, Ohio.
Roger is preceded in death by his wife, Luella M. Shirley; son Stephen Ward Blackburn; son Dale Kevin Blackburn, and his parents, Sydney Charles Blackburn and Mary E Alter Blackburn. He is survived by his sister Mary F. Blackburn Schickedantz, daughter-in-law Linda L. Shannon Blackburn; Julia Doyle, adopted granddaughter and an extended family of nephews and nieces.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 100 Miami Avenue, Terrace Park, OH at 2:00 p.m. on July 5, 2025. A graveside service will be held in Zanesville Memorial Park at 1:00 p.m. on July 6, 2025.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Thomas Episcopal Church or to a charity of choice.