She lived in Appleton, Wis., for more than 40 years and moved to Chapel Hill in 1996.

She was born in Steamboat Rock, Iowa, and received a teaching certificate from McPherson College in Kansas. She taught school for a number of years in Kansas before moving to Washington, D.C., where she worked for the Department of Defense at the Pentagon. In Appleton, she worked for the local newspaper, taught school and worked for a physician as well as in other jobs. She served in leadership positions in the PTA, Girl Scouts, First United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, Lawrence University Attic Theater Angels, The Appleton Gallery of Art, The Fox Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau, The Valley Rock & Mineral Club, The Shrine Auxiliary, and The Wisconsin Republican Party.

After moving to Chapel Hill, she was a member of Amity United Methodist Church, participating in the Adult Bible Study meetings as well as United Methodist Women.

A memorial service will be held March 15 at 10 a.m. at Amity United Methodist Church in Chapel Hill.

Survivors include a son, Richard Blackburn; a daughter, Chris Blackburn of Chapel Hill; a sister, Kate Hogancamp of Independence, Mo.; and a grand-daughter.

Memorial donations may be sent to Church Women United, The Interchurch Center, Suite 1626A, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, N.Y. 10115; or to UNC Hospitals Volunteer Services, UNC Hospitals, 101 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, N.C. 27514.