Paul Emerson Blackstone

Paul Emerson Blackstone, age 82, of North Little Rock, Ark., passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, June 30, 2019, with his wife of 50 years, Patricia Ann Blackstone, by his side. Paul was born in Buffalo, New York on July 25, 1936, and is preceded in death by his parents, Wilmer Lawson and Mary Blackstone, and grandparents, Oscar and Lucinda Emerson and Wilmer and Bessie Blackstone. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Ann Blackstone; his daughter, Lucinda Montez Lanford, and her husband, Erin Lanford, of North Little Rock, Ark.; his son, Evan Carey Blackstone, and his wife, Justine Fox-Young, of Albuquerque, N.M.; and two grandchildren, Cary Emerson Blackstone and Marguerite Charlie Blackstone, of Albuquerque, N.M. Paul received his B.A. in Philosophy in 1958 from Carleton College in Northfield, Minn., where he played goalie for the Carleton Knights' varsity ice hockey team. He also received a Master of Divinity from Boston University, School of Theology, and a Master of Arts in Social Work from the University of Chicago, School of Social Service Administration. After receiving his M.A. in Social Work, Paul was a Case Worker for the Salvation Army Family Service Division in Chicago in the 1960's. He then moved on to Director of Counseling Services at Family and Children's Services in Fort Wayne, Ind. He continued his path of social work by becoming the Executive Director of the Family Guidance Center in Hickory, N.C. Upon moving to North Little Rock, Ark., in 1981, became the Executive Director of the Family Service Agency of Central Arkansas. He finished his career as Director of Consumer Credit Counseling Services at Family Services of the Mid-South in Memphis, Tenn. Paul was a devoted father and husband as well as an avid athlete. He continued playing hockey well into his 50's in Little Rock, and logged many miles running nearly every week into his 80's. His Sacred Space was the Chautauqua Institution, near Buffalo, N.Y. When he was a boy, he accompanied his grandfather, who was a Methodist minister, and his grandmother to Chautauqua. It became a very special place for him both spiritually and intellectually. For the last 12 years of his life, he and Patricia vacationed in Chautauqua for several weeks in the summer. Because of the music, the church services, lectures, and Quaker meetings, Chautauqua became Paul's Sacred Space. There will be a Celebration of Life at First United Methodist Church, 723 Center St in Little Rock, on Friday, July 5th at 12 noon. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the First United Methodist Church Music Ministry, the Salvation Army and charities of choice. To share a memory of Mr. Blackstone with his family visit www.griffinleggettresthills.com