Charles Alfred Blackwood Jr.

    Charles Alfred Blackwood Jr., 93, passed away December 20, 2023. Charles was born July 22, 1930, in Kalamazoo, Mich., to Charles and Elsie Reid Blackwood. His family moved to Chicago and later to Teaneck, N.J., where he graduated from Teaneck High School in 1948. Charles completed a bachelor's degree at University of Vermont in Burlington. He joined the Army in 1953 and served two years qualifying for the GI Bill. He then entered Purdue University in West. Lafayette, Ind., completing a master's degree in genetics. He worked for the Veterans Administration for several years. Then he proudly landed a job with the National Institute of Health were he worked 22 years, retiring in 1999. Charles married Dorthy Welch Kuhn October 10, 1998, and recently celebrated 25 years. Charles was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers and their wives, Melvin (Lucile) Blackwood and Ferris (Grace) Blackwood, his stepson Michael Joseph Kuhn, his infant stepdaughter Dorthy Ellen Kuhn, two former spouses, Marjorie Blackwood and Carolyn Blackwood and two sisters-in-law, Norma Burton and Gloria Murphy. Charles is survived by four children, Mark Blackwood, Cheryl Blackwood, Greg (Martha) Alexander and Heather (Tom) Lasik. He is survived by seven grandchildren, Karen Blackwood, Jennifer Blackwood, Alex Blackwood, Kris Alnxander, Armando Aloxander, Kayla Alexander and Sean Lasik. He is also survived by four nieces and a nephew, Laurie Foote, Robin Branson, Holly Blackwood, Nancy Kless and Kirk Blackwood. Charles is survived by brothers/sisters-in-law, Bud (Lois) Welch, Bill Murphy, Gerarda Kelcy, Frank (Becky) Welch, Kathy Robins arid Mike Welch. He is survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Charles' funeral mass will be Tuesday, January 9 at 2 p.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 307 N.W. 4th, Oklahoma City, Okla.