Obituary of Eva Wray Blackburn Eads

Eva Wray Blackburn Eads, formerly a resident of Oolitic and Bloomington, Indiana, aged 99, died Friday Evening, July 23, 2010, at Garland, Texas. She was born June 5, 1911, in Albany, Clinton County, Kentucky, the daughter of Wesley Pearcy Wray and Myrtie Jane Coop. Eva married Roy Lee Blackburn of New Castle, IN, in Marion, Indiana, April 5, 1942. To that marriage was born one son, Mark Wray Blackburn. Eva helped to raise Roys four children, twins, Robert Lee Blackburn, Sr., & Ruth Leora White, Betty Jane Blackburn Auten and John William Blackburn, all now deceased. Eva worked for Sarkes Tarzian and RCA and was recently recognized by GE Corporation for her many years of service and as one of their oldest retirees. Eva retired from RCA in 1976. She was a member of the IBEW in Bloomington, Indiana. Eva received a letter of commendation by President George W. Bush for her 95th birthday. She was a member of the Oolitic Pentecostal Church since 1932, a member of the Red Cross for over 60 years, she was a Gray Lady and worked on the Blood Mobile. Eva was a nurse for Doctor Claude Dollens and for the Smith Esteb Hospital in Richmond, Indiana, and the Henry County Hospital in New Castle, Indiana, where her son Mark Wray Blackburn was born. On June 10, 1979, Eva married Joel Sampson Eads of Indianapolis, Indiana, who preceded her in death December 22, 1994. They had a fairy tale romance lasting 15 years. Eva became a born-again Christian in 1932 on the front porch of Nettie Staileys home on Lafayette Street in Oolitic, Indiana, and has faithfully served Jesus Christ since that time and for 78 years was a member of the Oolitic Pentecostal Church. She was completely devoted to her family and friends and left a lasting impression on each of their lives and the lives of countless others over the years. She was a great prayer warrior, and if she set her sights on praying for you, your life would be changed. She loved to teach new converts and spent many hours studying Gods word, searching for more of His wisdom to enrich her life and the lives of others. She will be greatly missed by all who were privileged to share her life. Eva is survived by her son Mark Wray Blackburn and his wife Elizabeth Ann Winters Blackburn of Garland, Texas, and two granddaughters, April Eve Blackburn Walker and her husband Michael Sheldon Walker of Rowlett, Texas; and Jill Elizabeth Blackburn Townsend and husband Steven Brant Townsend of Garland, Texas. Eva is survived by nine grandchildren: Aaron Wray Walker, Sydni Michelle Walker, Austin Troy Walker, Summer Elizabeth Walker, Savanna Rose Walker, and Alex Michael Walker of Rowlett, Texas, and Andrew Brant Townsend, Donovan Scott Townsend and Seth Joel Townsend of Garland, Texas. She is survived by one sister, Helen Wray Sharr, wife of Robert Sharr of Oolitic, Indiana. She is survived by many nieces and nephews and step-grandchildren, Cheryl White, Debbie Jenkins, Bobby Lee Blackburn, and Johnny Kevin Blackburn. She was especially close to Patricia Wray Roberts, Pamela Jane Thompson, Debbie Wray Thompson and Gary Charles Wray. Eva was preceded in death by her husband Roy Lee Blackburn in February, 1969, and her husband Joel Sampson Eads in December, 1994. Four brothers, Pete Wray, Elisha (Bud) Wray, Herbert Wray, Everett Wray and Claude Wray, four sisters, Sarah Ellen Wray, Ruth Wray Blackburn, Shirley Wray Browning, and Monra Wray Wagner, and her stepmother Virginia (Virgie) Rains Wray Deford, two step-children, Don Eads, and Martha Jo Eads Pennington. Funeral Information Funeral services are at 1:00 PM. Friday July 30th At the Day & Carter Mortuary, 1133 Lincoln Avenue, Bedford, Indiana with Rev. Keith Thompson, officiating, assisted by Rev. Marti Speers, and with her son, Rev. Mark W. Blackburn of Garland, Texas. Burial will be at the Hilltop Pentecostal Church Cemetery, Avoca, Indiana. The Oolitic Pentecostal Church will provide food after the graveside ceremony in the Fellowship Hall. Friends may visit and celebrate her life during extended visitation from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Thursday, July 29th and from 11:00 am until the hour of service on Friday, July 30th at the Day & Carter Mortuary. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.daycarter.com.