PRESQUE ISLE – I, Paul Carroll Blackstone, of Perham, passed away Feb. 14, 2009, and am now breathing celestial air in my heavenly home with all my family and friends that arrived before me. I was born to Carroll and Glenna Blackstone on May 31, 1930, in the very home I last lived in until cancer forced me to move to Leisure Village, for the remaining days of my earthly life. Many thanks to all the caregivers who have watched over me in the final weeks of my life, especially Earla Russ. By profession I became a chemical engineer. I went to the University of Maine between 1947-1949. I eventually got my Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1955. My first major job was with the soap company Lever Brothers, where I worked for 21 years. Including receiving two patents for work I did developing the process for putting color in soaps and detergents. By 1969 I was staff chemical engineer for Lever Brothers stationed in Cranston, R.I. Between 1969 and 1976, I was senior development engineer for that famous company. My last year with Lever Brothers was also my first year with RCA, the equally famous electronics company. Eventually RCA was bought out by GE, General Electric, and from 1976 through 1981, I was the technical change coordinator for the AEGIS project with the U.S. Navy. Over the years this electronic system, that defends Navy ships from attack, became a household name. Even to this day they speak of the Aegis cruisers and destroyers that are the mainstay of our Navy. I would eventually put in 19 years with RCA/GE and end up a senior management engineer. While at GE, I lived in Moorestown, N.J., where I was an elder at the Tabernacle of Jesus Christ. I was named in a copy of Who’s Who in the East in 1993-1994, with these two descriptions: “inventor and experimenter with detergents.” Despite these honorable and important positions, the one that I will remember most is my early retirement so that I could come home and take care of my aging mother, for the last six years of her life. Another joy of my latter life was being able to play the piano for a number of the area churches and to the elderly in a number of nursing homes. I am survived by my brother, Wendell E. Blackstone and his dear wife, Phyliss, of Perham; and many nephews, thanks Gary for being such a helpful neighbor and friend; nieces, their families and a number of great-nephews and great-nieces. I remembered to the end my numerous friends scattered throughout the country and especially my dearest friends in New Jersey. Relatives and friends may call 7-9 p.m. Wednesday at Duncan-Graves Funeral Home, 30 Church St., Presque Isle. I have asked my oldest nephew, the Rev. Barry Blackstone, assisted by the Rev. Dave Goupille, to conduct a musical funeral service 1 p.m. Thursday at Perham Baptist Church and to lay my body next to my parents in the family plot at Fairview Cemetery in Perham in the spring. My hope is the time of our separation will be short. See you in glory! Paul. Condolences may be expressed at www.duncan-graves.com.
PAUL CARROLL BLACKSTONE
