Rev. Donald Dean Blakeman

Fairview ~ Reverend Donald Dean Blakeman, 82, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, October 23, 2012. Reverend Blakeman was born in Decatur, Illinois to the late Joseph and Frances Kelley Blakeman. He was a U.S. Air Force Veteran and served during the Korean War. He preached for over 52 years and had pastored churches in Dayton, Ohio, Homestead, Florida and others around Western, NC. Surviving Mr. Blakeman is his wife of 56 years, Margie Faye Miracle Blakeman; four children, Donald Wayne Blakeman, Sandra Suttles (Larry), Edwin Blakeman (Iris) and Sue Blakeman, all of Hendersonville; also surviving are three sisters, Audrey Fugate of Dayton, OH, Arnetta Ramsey of Dayton, OH and Alice Ray of Kingsport, TN; a brother, Dick Blakeman of Dayton, OH; 8 grandchildren, Elizabeth Suttles and her fiancé, Dane Meredith, Stacey Winkleman (Ryan), Joseph Younger, Joshua Younger, Hannah Blakeman, Samantha Younger, Gayle Suttles and Amy Suttles; 4 great grandchildren, Korey Suttles, Hailey Suttles, Colin Suttles and the Apple of his eye, Grayson Winkleman and a host of nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM Thursday, October 25, 2012 in the chapel of the State Veterans Cemetery in Black Mountain with Reverend Mark Elkins officiating. Burial will follow in the cemetery. The family will receive friends from 12:00 to 1:00 pm, Thursday at Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian on Long Shoals Road.