Passed 18 Feb 2014 Santa Fe, NM Buried Santa Fe Memorial Gardens. The wonderful Bill Blackwell went to be with Jesus on February 18, 2014 in Santa Fe. He is survived by his devoted wife of 33 years, Barbara Blackwell. Bill had a great passion for this life, and a great love of God, which went hand in hand. Bill's enormous curiosity never waned as he grew older, and his greatest interest in this world was for other people. Virtually no one who crossed his path escaped his attention, and he could and would talk with anyone about the stories of their lives. This interest flowed from Bill's compassion for others, and his desire to help them whenever he could. It also flowed from his faith. Bill's life began in Baltimore on April 29, 1944. His father, Noah Blackwell, was a military man, and his family's movements throughout this country and Europe fostered Bill's lifelong love of travel. In his middle school years, his family - Noah, mother Vera Willene, and sister Linda - settled in Albuquerque. Bill, who was passionate about the desert landscape of New Mexico, would live in this state for the rest of his life. In high school, Bill worked some summers as a wrangler at a dude ranch in Colorado. But his most important summer was spent at the Billy Graham Pavilion at the 1964 World's Fair in Queens, New York, where he was able to spread his faith to many people from all over. In his youth, Bill was also an avid Boy Scout, swimmer, lifeguard, and - later - scuba diver. Bill had a passion for classical music, and his resonant voice and articulate manner of speaking led to his work as a radio announcer on a classical music station. He later joined KGGM Television in Albuquerque, where he worked as a producer, on-air television reporter, and weekend anchor, jobs that he loved and spoke about fondly throughout his life. Later in life, after Bill retired from his long career with the State of New Mexico working as a systems analyst for the General Services Department, Information Systems Division, he returned to his love of journalism. Bill freelanced at Journal Santa Fe and volunteered at KSFR Radio, for which his broadcast stories received multiple awards. Bill also volunteered his extraordinary voice in the service of the blind, transforming books into audio recordings. Bill loved formal learning as well. He attended the University of New Mexico, receiving a bachelor's degree in Russian studies and political science, and later earned a master's degree in public administration. In 1980, Bill met Barbara Waidell at First Baptist Church in Santa Fe. Bill was teaching the Sunday school class Barbara attended the second day she lived in Santa Fe. Bill taught the Bible for over 33 years. Bill was devoted to Barbara, and to their dogs Barley, Willie, Duke, Daisy and Peaches. For a number of years, Bill faced serious medical challenges, but he did not let these challenges sap his enjoyment of life, his family, his friends, and God. Bill earned his pilot's license, but when his eyesight no longer allowed him to fly a plane himself, he still enjoyed flying to see other countries. Bill was an insatiable reader of books, including the Bible, and he devised ways to continue to absorb knowledge, understanding, and faith even when small print eluded him (and he was grateful that technology like the Ipad appeared just in time for him). For years, Bill cared for his beloved mother, Vera Willene, who came to live in Santa Fe with Bill and Barbara and who passed away in 2009. And Bill was very close to his church family, at Calvary Chapel in Arroyo Seco, and others in the Santa Fe Christian community. Bill is preceded in death by father Noah Blackwell and mother Vera Willene Blackwell of Albuquerque. He is survived by his devoted wife, Barbara Waidell Blackwell; sister, Linda Liskow (Barry) of Kansas City, KS; niece, Samantha Liskow (Matt) and their daughter, Cecelia; nephew, Michael Liskow (Virginie) of Brooklyn, NY and their son, Remi; uncle, James Love (Hazel) of Trade, TN; aunt Patsy (Eddy) Cavanaugh of Greenville, SC; cousin, David Nielsen (Debby) and special son, Thomas of Mt. Airy, MD; cousin, Shirley Nielsen of West Palm, FL; cousin, Yvonne Strupp (Kenneth) of Huntington, MD; cousin, Michael Angelos (Kerry) of Monkton, MD; and Connie Angelos of Terry Hall MD. A visitation will be held on Saturday, February 22, 2014 from 9:30 - 10 a.m. at First Baptist Church 1605 Old Pecos Trail followed by a Funeral Service at 10 a.m. Dion Cordova of Truth Ministries Calvary Chapel will be officiating. Reception will follow the service immediately at the Blackwell home, 46 Calle Cantando Santa Fe, NM 87508. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Gideon's International www.gideons.org or call (505) 986-1180. Rivera Family Funerals and Cremations 417 East Rodeo Rd., Santa Fe, NM 87505 Phone: (505) 989-7032, Fax: (505) 820-0435, santafefuneraloption.com