John Thomas Blackstock

John Thomas Blackstock, age 81, formally of Stamford, Texas, is singing in the heavenly choir now with his Jesus. He passed from this life with his wife of 25 years by his side on March 19, 2021. He was born in Philadelphia, PA. to John Lewis and Geraldine Elizabeth (Hepburn) Blackstock on January 3, 1940. Just shy of his 9th birthday the family returned to his father’s birth area of Stamford, Texas where John lived most of his life until marrying Marsha C (Odgers) Wall on January 1, 1996. He then moved to Baird, Texas until 2006 when the two of them moved to Wilson, Texas. From 2014 to his passing, Marsha and John started staying in their ‘adobe home’ in Hernandez, NM more than in Texas. He was a graduate of Stamford High School and attended Howard Payne and Hardin-Simmons before entering the Navy and serving his country during the Vietnam War. He went to Winona Lake Photography School and was his father’s shadow at photography conventions in Oklahoma and Texas throughout his growing up years. He worked in his father’s photography studio from age 12 until he opened his own studio in Haskell, Texas until a fire destroyed the business. Later he worked for the Stamford schools and drove a school and activity bus. John became a TDCJ prison guard in 1996 and worked at 3 different units in the Big Country area until his retirement in 2008 from the unit in Lubbock. His memories of growing up in Stamford close to his Grandma (Woodson} Blackstock and his dad’s family became his stories to tell which he did in such a fun and wonderful way using his radio voice that God gave him. The adventures that he had with his friends at the ‘jog’ so many weekends were told over and over. The stories about working in his dad’s studio and the people that came in, the families that had their photos taken, you felt like you knew them because he had such a great way with the story. Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo stories and pictures; he was so proud to be from Stamford, Texas. He is survived by his wife, Marsha, daughter, Heather (Blackstock) Bailey (Brian), son, Matthew Blackstock, sister, Joan Helen (Blackstock McComb) Dominey (Joe), nephew and niece, John McComb and Jennifer (McComb) Rettig (Brian) and grandchildren Graham and Anna Bailey, Kathryn Blackstock, Raul Antoni, Brandon and Ethan Wall. Cremation has occurred, no services are planned at this time. We are celebrating the laughter, the voice, the stories, the memories that made him so important in our lives. Thankful that God allowed us to have him for so many years. Memorials can be sent to: First Baptist Church of Wilson, Texas, PO Box 67, Wilson, Texas 79381