Gene Atlee Blackshire, 85, of Sissonville passed away September 6, 2010, at home with family by his side.
He was born July 25, 1925, and was the eldest son of the late Virgil and Dollie Good Blackshire. He was also preceded in death by his eldest son Charles R. "Chuck" Blackshire.
Gene was a retired captain of the Charleston Fire Department. He had served in the Navy during WWII as an engineer on the USS Crosley in the Pacific. He was a truck driver for Kroger in his younger days and worked at FMC for a brief time before becoming a fireman. He also delivered mail in the Sissonville area for years, retiring at age 79. He loved his many careers and the people he met along the way.
Gene was a member of Grapevine Chapel Church in Sissonville. He loved to study and teach the scripture.
Surviving: wife of 57 years, Frankie Beatrice "Bea" Smith Blackshire; daughters, Fonda Jean Blackshire Meadows of Dunbar and Pamela Blackshire Anastasio and son-in-law, Ronald Anastasio, of Sissonville; son, Mark Allen Blackshire of Ironton, Ohio; brother, Richard Blackshire of South Charleston; three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; of whom Justin Anastasio is the only one from Sissonville, along with his wife, Samantha, and their daughter, Albany.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, September 10, at Long & Fisher Funeral Home with Pastor Mike Good officiating. Burial will follow in Floral Hills Garden of Memories.
Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
The family would like to give special thanks to neighbors and friends, Larry and Pat Plumley, Tim and Stacy Smith, Larry and Cathy Jordan, Bill and Betty Marion and Pat Ross, Nurse Sherry Duffey of Gentiva Health Services, Samantha Shamblin Anastasio, Gene's granddaughter-in-law, for giving up her summer to help, sister-in-law, Kathy Anastasio, friends who kept in touch and, last but not least, Pam's co-workers, Anne, Elaine, Wanda, and Tera, for all of their help, thoughts and prayers through this tough time. We love you all.
Online condolences may be sent to the Blackshire family at longfisherfuneralhome.com.