Angeline Armbruster Blackburn departed this life on Tuesday May 10, 2016, at home, after a valiant battle with lung cancer. She was born November 9, 1933, in Bay County, Michigan, the only child of Fred and Geneva Sellhorn Armbruster. She graduated from Midland (MI) High School, attended Bethel College in St. Paul, MN, and received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH. She worked in Cleveland at Maternity Hospital, in Michigan as a visiting nurse, and in Las Vegas, NV, as a school nurse.
Angie married Dr. Billie Olen Blackburn of Athens, AL, in 1961. She and Billie raised a daughter and a son, later welcoming a daughter-in-law and grandchildren into the family. Angie and Billie made their home in Norfolk, England; Chaumont, France; Columbia, TN; and Ames, IA, before moving to Athens, AL, in 1989. Wherever she lived, Angie participated in Bible studies and the music program at her church – leading classes, singing in the choir, and playing the piano and organ. She lived a life of ministry to others because she loved the LORD and she loved people.
Angie is survived by her husband, Billie Blackburn of Athens, AL; daughter Melanie Blackburn also of Athens; son Corey Blackburn and wife Joanna of Heath, TX; grandchildren Jonathan Blackburn, Katherine Blackburn, and Ian Blackburn, all of Heath, TX; several cousins; and many nieces and nephews.
Limestone Chapel Funeral Home is assisting the family. Visitation will be Sunday May 15, from 2-4 p.m. at Sardis Springs Baptist Church, 18310 AL Hwy 251, Athens. The celebration of life service will also be at Sardis Springs Baptist Church on Monday May 16, at 3 p.m. with Timothy Keenum, Charles Bagwell, and Jack Bailey officiating. The body will lie in state from 1-2:45 p.m. before the service. Pallbearers will be grand- and great-grandnephews Nicholas Barbre, Charles Deffenbaugh, Christopher Emerich, Benjamin Pressnell, Heath Roberts, and Todd Spidel. Burial will be in Sardis Springs Baptist Church Cemetery.
If you wish to do something in Angie’s memory, the family suggests you contribute to a Christian ministry. Among ministries that she supported are Sardis Springs Baptist Church (256-232-2056), the Bible Broadcasting Network (bbnradio.org), the Navigators (navigators.org), and Gideons International (gideons.org).
