Blackburn, Helen Armond

Helen Armond Blackburn, 78 of Narrows went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, March 31st, 2012 at Riverview Nursing and Rehabilitation in Rich Creek. She was born in Covington on May 4th, 1933 and was the daughter of the late Claude Winthrop and Louise Jeanette Ginn Blackburn. In addition to her mother and father, she was preceded in death by an infant sister. A 1951 valedictorian graduate of Narrows High School and a graduate of Radford College, Helen was a retired employee of Giles County Public Schools, where she taught business classes at Narrows High School for over 30 years. From the age of 14, Helen served as the organist at First Presbyterian Church in Narrows, and also served for many years in numerous capacities including choir director and Sunday School teacher. An extremely generous and loving person, Helen will be deeply missed by her family and many friends. Left to cherish her memory are three sisters, Nancy Dowdy and husband Joe (Bud) of Pearisburg, Rebekah Woodyard and husband Ronald of Narrows, and Virginia Brown of Rocky Mount, Virginia; four nieces, Pam Bishop, Joyce Ratcliffe, Cathy Keaton, Sarah Gilreath; three nephews, Steve Woodyard, Bart Dowdy, Matthew Brown, all of whom Helen thought fondly of as her “grandchildren,” several great nieces and great nephews; a special aunt and uncle, George (Tut) and Charlotte Ginn of Los Angeles, California; and many special friends, including her caregivers, Gail Blankenship, Peggy Tobin, and Helen Blevins, as well as her extended family at Riverview Nursing and Rehabilitation. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012 at 11 AM at the First Presbyterian Church in Narrows with Rev. Shirley Larson officiating. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery in Narrows. The family will receive friends at Riffe’s Funeral Service Monday from 6 to 8 PM. The family requests that those sending memorial contributions, please consider First Presbyterian Church; 702 Memorial Boulevard; Narrows, Virginia 24124, to the attention of the church treasurer. The family is being served by Riffe’s Funeral Service in Narrows, (540) 726-2442, and online at riffefuneralservice.com.