Thomas "Tom" W Blackwell

Tom was born December 28, 1951 to Laurence Thomas and Oralene Ray Blackwell in Lafayette, Indiana. When Tom was young they lived in Nachez, Ms. and Lakeland, Fl. Oralene packed the three little boys and his granny and came back to North Little Rock. She met Clarence Persinger they married and lived in North Little Rock. Tom graduated from North Little Rock High with over 800 in his class. He played the drums for 8 years, and loved the Marching Band. Tom graduated in 1970. He enlisted in the Air Force. He served as an Air Freight Specialist and Air Transportation Specialist, where he was stationed at Da Nang, Viet Nam for 1 year. Tom was honorably discharged as a Staff Sargent, August 8th 1977, spending 7 years of serving his country, proudly.

Tom married Sue Ellen Spencer, March 22, 1986 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. They resided in North Little Rock, and Little Rock. He worked at North Little Rock Waste Water Treatment Plant & Maumelle Treatment Plant for a total of over 11 years.

In 1994 moved to Logan, Iowa where he worked in retail in Missouri Valley & Logan. Tom served on the Logan City Council for 8 years.

In 2010 they moved to Carroll, IA for Sue's nursing career. Tom landed a job at the Walmart Super Center in Carroll. While at Walmart Tom was chosen to go to the Walmart Stock Holders Meeting. Not every store gets chosen and only one employee from a store is asked to go. Tom had the honor of going to the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and staying at the dorms, with Walmart employees from all over the world. An amazing experience with a lot of celebrities, even Carol Burnett was there and did the Tarzan call.

Tom loved the Arkansas Razorbacks "a true fan" always meant: "Calling the Hogs" "Woo Pig Sooie" "How about them hogs"

Tom's first job was as a paper boy for the Little Rock Democrat. He had the pleasure of going on many trips sent by the Democrat. One of his favorite trips was to Pensacola, Fl. From that trip he knew he wanted to live in Pensacola someday. Tom has been pretty adamant on moving to Pensacola for many years. In January 2015 we got to take the family to Disney World in Orlando. It then had to happen, we moved January 7th 2016 to our current place.

Tom transferred from Carroll to The Neighborhood Walmart in Gulf Breeze, 6 miles away from the apartment and 3 miles from the "3 mile bridge" so half of the miles were over the Pensacola Bay. He Retired from Walmart in February 2018. Tom loved the beach, the amazing warm weather and the Blue Angels.

Preceded in death by his parents; brother Robert; infant brother Gary; infant son David Adam and infant grandson Ryan Mathew.

Survivors include his wife Sue of Pensacola; son, Chris Blackwell and his wife Heather of Maumelle, AR; grandchildren, Seth, Sidney, and Sebastian; son, Tim Blackwell of Little Rock, AR; daughter Molly Bertelson and husband, Nick of Missouri Valley, IA; brother Jerry Blackwell of North Little Rock, AR.

Tom will have a full Military Service and will be laid to rest at Barrancas National Cemetery at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, FL. This date is pending. He will be cremated at Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel.