Thomas Ralph Blackburn, Jr.

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Mr. Thomas Ralph Blackburn Jr., age 79, of Raleigh passed away Friday, October 24, 2025, peacefully in his sleep surrounded by his family.

Funeral services will be held 12:00 PM Monday, October 27, 2025, at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, 3982 Clingman Rd, Ronda, NC 28670, with Pastor James Safrit officiating. The family will receive friends from 11:00 AM until 11:45 AM prior to the service. Burial to follow service in the church cemetery.

Tom graduated from NC State with a degree in Engineering. He worked for Bristol Myers Squib, WECK, and Teleflex until his retirement. Tom found genealogy to be a passion during his retirement. He and his mother, Bernice, loved to collect information, stories, and pictures to share with extended family. Tom often sent his collected works to others. He wrote articles for The Wilkes Genealogical Society, and his work enriched the lives of families all over the country.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Thomas R. and Bernice D. Blackburn.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley Johnson Blackburn; daughter, Lora (Alex Artemenko) their children Daniel Lev, Andrew Caleb, Lydia Ruth and Liliann Grace Artemenko; his son, Thomas (Rachel). He is also survived by his sister, Sandra Edwards (Eddie) and their family: Matthew (Inna), Llewyn, Mila; Jonathan (Luli) and Luca.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Transitions LifeCare: Transitions Kids Playground (www.transitionslifecare.org/donate/), or to Pleasant Grove Baptist Cemetery Fund.

Online condolences may be made to www.reinssturdivant.com.

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