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BORN
1935
DIED
2018
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Thomas Blackburn Obituary
1935 - 2018
THOMAS J BLACKBURN went to be with the Lord on Thursday, March 29, 2018. He was born in Delta, Colorado, on February 10, 1935 to Irl R. Blackburn and Mamie V. Blackburn. He started school in Delta, and later the family moved to Hotchkiss, Colorado, where he finished grade school, junior high school and high school. He was active in football, basketball, and track. He set several track records while in high school. Tom attended Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon. While there, he met Virginia Blackburn. They were married in 1956, and he graduated from Linfield in 1957.
Tom went to seminary in Berkley, California, where he studied pastoral studies. He worked his way through college and seminary while serving as a youth minister in San Lorenzo, California.
Following seminary, Tom was called to pastor at the Community Christian Center in Garden City in 1960, where he ministered for 39 years to the physical, educational, and spiritual needs of the people there. He was also active in the Ada County Sheriff's Posse, and was administrator and pastor of the Christian School at the church.
Tom also had a radio program for 57 years, ministered in Ola, Idaho once a month, and actively ministered in three Assisted Living homes, after leaving the Community Christian Center.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Irl and Mamie Blackburn, three sisters, Delma, Doris, and Dorothy, and a brother, Robert. He is survived by his wife, Virginia, sons Timothy James, Garden City, and Stephen and his wife, Jeana, Renton, WA, daughter Laura, son-in-law Glen Samuelson, Garden City, daughter Sue Ellen, son-in-law Rick Montgomery, Garden City, eleven grandchildren, and sixteen great grandchildren.
Services will be held Friday, April 6, 2018, at 11:00 AM at Vineyard Christian in Garden City, followed by a pot-luck lunch, and a time of sharing.
Private graveside services will follow at a later time.
Memorials may be made to the River City Church building fund.
Memories and condolences may be shared with Pastor Tom's family on his memorial webpage at www.summersfuneral.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Thomas Blackburn
Sponsored by The Idaho Statesman.
Debbie Canterberry
March 29, 2025
Pastor Tom you was the father and mentor i needed in my life I think about you everyday! I talk to when I need to let you know life is hard again! Tell Ginger i love he! Love you Pastor Tom
MaryAnn Stuart
March 29, 2020
Dear God, Thank You for putting into my life and the lives of my family a Godly example like Pastor Tom. His strong and compassionate faithfulness to You, even in difficult times, and Your love and rich mercies to him and his family, leave great memories and advice for us throughout our lives. Thank You, precious God.
Remembering a humble man, giving God all glory, trusting God to be able to do anything, never compromising the truth of God's Word.
MaryAnn Stuart
March 29, 2019
verinca borgeman
April 7, 2018
He is God's son, and I am sure He is well pleased to welcome his loving son home! I couldn't have loved this icon of a man more, unless he was my own father! Oh, how happy Pastor Tom finally is because he is in the very presence of the One he has spoken of and taught many of, for many years.
We did not know of Pastor Tom's passing or his funeral(until hrs. afterwards). As part of your spiritual family we shall miss you greatly, but we know that we shall meet you again in our heavenly home. Then, there shall be many tears of joy and happiness being able to share God's unending love with you. Until we shall see you again Pastor Tom, I send my prayers of condolences and love to you family still here.
vicki talarowski Tylor borgeman
garden valley, idaho
Debbie Canterberry
April 7, 2018
I will miss Pastor Tom he was a.great man I am 60 I have known pastor tom since I was child .He was my mentor I moved away 20 years ago to Oregon my highline of going back to Boise was stopping by to see Pastor Tom and Ginger to of the kindest people and caring .I know I will see him again some day lots of love Debbie Canterberrys
Don Blackburn
April 6, 2018
My grandfather was a true life saint!!!! He touch somany people in his life and changed there life's... He will be missed and his pecents in people's life will be missed . I love u grandpa!!!!!
Jeff Padgett
April 5, 2018
Pastor Tom has a very special place in my family and I's life. He was a very kind gentle man who loved the Lord Jesus and people, a wonderful servant of the Lord and a man I'll never forget . Jeff Padgett
Alice and Scott Lewis
April 4, 2018
We rejoice the life of Pastor Tom he was a awesome person. He married us 36 years ago I believe his blessing helped our marriage stay together. I do not remember what the words he said about the rings but I know I never heard anyone else say those words. He recently helped my husband with emotional stress. It was a realBlessing for Scott. With much love please concentrate on the good times with Pastor Tom.
MaryAnn Stuart
April 4, 2018
Thanks to Pastor Tom and Ginger Blackburn, my children, Lloyd, Kyrilyn, and Tisha got a good start in life at CCLC in the '80s. I am grateful. I will remember advice from Pastor Tom. What a blessing he was.
Debbie Canterberry
April 4, 2018
i will miss you pastor tom
Linda and John Brown
April 4, 2018
Tom drove by my husband one day as he walking along the road in Garden City to say hello and that he missed seeing him at church. This simple greeting encouraged my husband - then a teenager - to return to the church, where, later while on a youth outing to a revival service, my husband went forward to accept Christ as his Savior. But for this one "hello, how are you?" my husband and I would have never met later at a Christian college. We've been married 40 years and have always known how Pastor Tom's ministry there in Garden City was used by God to change not only my husband's life forever, but many others. May God bless his family as they grieve his loss at this time.
Melody Woodard
April 4, 2018
It Is hard to believe that Pastor Tom Is actually gone. I admired him. I remember going to Community Christian Center as a kid when he was pastor there. My thoughts and prayers are with Ginger and the rest of the family. I pray that you find peace in these difficult times.
Nancy Stevenson
April 3, 2018
Pastor Tom was the person I admired most in the world. Along with Ginger they lived the most giving Christian life I have ever witnessed. I loved him so much and I always felt his loving, caring kindness for all of the fiftyeight years I knew him. God is rejoicing in having his faithful son by His side in heaven.
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