William Blackwood, Jr.

William Charles Blackwood, Jr., age 53, of Gulf Breeze, Florida, died on Saturday, April 3, 2010 after a lengthy illness. Charles is survived by his devoted wife Wimberly, his parents, Bill and Mary Blackwood of Gulf Breeze, FL, three sisters, Sarah (Dennis) McCarthy of Fairfield, CT, Susan (Hal) Reynolds of San Francisco, CA, and Ann Blackwood of Annandale, VA. Charles is also survived by four nieces and nephews, five step- granddaughters, and his dog, Wuzzy. 

 Charles was born in Pensacola on February 20, 1957, where he spent his early years. When he was six, the family moved to Europe where Charles was educated in Troon, Scotland and Brussels, Belgium. The family returned to Gulf Breeze in 1973 where Charles finished high school and then served in the U.S. Army. He later attended Pensacola Junior College and took college courses through the Victory Education and Training Institute to prepare him for lay ministry and service in the ministries of Victory Outreach International.

 Charles and Wimberly were married in Pensacola in 1997 and spent eight years enjoying Denver, Colorado, returning in 2007 to Gulf Breeze to be close to the support of family as Charles sought to recover from a traumatic brain injury he suffered in October, 2006.

 In Denver, Charles was involved in Victory Outreach, an international, church-oriented Christian ministry called to evangelize and disciple hurting people through the message of hope and plan of Jesus Christ. Victory Outreach plants and develops churches, rehab homes and training centers across the world. Charles was greatly loved by his Denver Church family and was deeply committed to fulfilling his own potential in life and to his calling to help other men fulfill theirs. 

 Perhaps his greatest ministry since his injury was how he bore his infirmities with such grace.
 Charles loved God, church and his family. He had a great sense of humor and adventure. He loved to cook, travel, hike, bicycle and ski in the Rocky Mountains, surf and enjoy his hometown beaches and had a particular love for training his many dogs over the years!

 Charles's family wishes to thank his care givers including Craig Rehabilitation Hospital, Kindred Hospital, St. Anthony's Hospital and Jewell Care Center in Denver, and most recently Baptist Manor, Bay Breeze Nursing Center and Baptist Hospitals of Gulf Breeze and Pensacola. Visitation will be held at Rose Lawn Funeral Chapel in Gulf Breeze on Tuesday, April 6, 2010 from 5:00-7:00 PM. Funeral and burial services conducted by Dr. Jerry Blacklaw to be held at Roselawn on Wednesday, April 7 at 10:00 AM. Donations may be made in memory of Charles to Victory Outreach Denver North, P.O. Box 40210, Denver, CO 80204-0210.

Visitation

Visitation

Rose Lawn Funeral Home
2942 Gulf Breeze Parkway
Gulf Breeze, FL  32563
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
5:00 PM

Service

Funeral Service

Rose Lawn Funeral Home
2942 Gulf Breeze Parkway
Gulf Breeze, FL  32563
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
10:00 AM