Margaret Ruth Blackiston

MARGARET RUTH BLACKISTON (nee Benning) age 89, of Parma, Ohio, passed away on March 7, 2018, at Pleasantview Care Center. She was born March 10, 1928 in Erie, Pennsylvania to Oscar and Helen (nee Piper) Benning.  After high school, she moved to Cleveland, Ohio and attended St. Alexis Hospital School of Nursing.  She worked as a registered nurse at St. Luke’s Hospital and the Parma Medical Building. On April 16, 1949 she married Charles Edward Blackiston at St. Luke’s Hospital Chapel.  She was a lifelong resident of Parma, and attended Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, where she was part of the choir and sang many solos.  In recent years, she attended Doers of the Word Baptist Church.  She was a regular caller to the pastor’s radio talk show, sharing her strong Christian faith and political views, earning her the endearing title of “Grandma Marge” to all the listeners. She enjoyed many years of mixed couples bowling and ballroom dancing with her husband.  She also enjoyed gardening, playing the piano, crocheting, singing, being active in the Republican Party and years of Bible research and study. Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Albert Benning, and her husband, Charles. Survivors include her four children: Robert Blackiston (Deborah) of Cabot, Arkansas, Brenda Blackiston of Baltimore, Maryland, Betsy Chaffin (Ernie) of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, and John Blackiston (Cathy) of Columbus, Ohio.  She is also survived by ten grandchildren: Joshua Blackiston, Matthew Blackiston, John Blackiston, Jennifer Lyttle, Jeffrey Sheets, Jessica Hranj, Cory King, Bethany Kelley, Cacie Ramsey and James Blackiston, as well as twelve great-grandchildren: Emersyn, Campbell, Briggs, Meredith, Evan, Titus, Madeline, Indiana, Oscar, Isabel, Rustin and Kate. A memorial service is planned for Saturday, April 14, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, 5930 State Rd., Parma.  She will be laid to rest, with her late husband, in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC, at a later date.