- Baptist Press - https://www.baptistpress.com -

Campus minister at West Point dies of apparent heart attack

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WEST POINT, N.Y. (BP)–William B. Blackwell, a Southern Baptist campus minister with the United States Military Academy at West Point since 1993, died at his home Dec. 12 of an apparent heart attack.

Blackwell, 46, was a missionary with the North American Mission Board’s collegiate evangelism unit who began his ministry at West Point as an associate missionary under NAMB’s precedessor, the Home Mission Board.

Blackwell was a 1980 oceanography graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., who earned a master of divinity degree in pastoral care and counseling in 1993 at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.

Before enrolling in seminary, Blackwell served for 10 years with United States Marine Corps, serving in such roles as a chaplain and, earlier, as an assistant operations officer, battery commander and platoon commander.

Blackwell’s ministry career included service as a chaplain with the U.S. Navy Reserves and VA Medical Center in Louisville, Ky. He also served as pastor of Union Grove Baptist Church in Bedford, Ky. He was licensed and ordained to the ministry in 1992 at Westwood Baptist Church in Springfield, Va.

A wake is scheduled for Dec. 16 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at Doulin Funeral Home, 318 W. Montgomery St., Newburgh, N.Y.

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The funeral service is scheduled Dec.17 at 11 a.m. at Ridgecrest Baptist Church, 529 Blooming Grove Turnpike, Route 94, New Windsor, N.Y. 12553.

Blackwell is survived by his two children: Stuart, 18, and Christina, 15. His wife, Diana, preceded him in death in 2002.
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