Franklin Blackstone Jr.

Franklin Blackstone, Jr. passed away peacefully on October 11, 2025 in Hospice Care at UPMC Passavant Hospital. He was born on June 15, 1929, the only child of Colonel Franklin Blackstone and Zella Henry Blackstone. He was survived by his dear, beloved and admired wife, Bonnie J. Blackstone, whom he married on June 28, 1986, and his loved and appreciated children and grandchildren: daughter Carlen L. Blackstone and her daughter Mei-Ling A. Blackstone and her husband Nicholas J. Patnella, son Franklin Blackstone, III, his wife, Alison Brunton Blackstone, and their sons Kent R. Blackstone and Mitchell L. Blackstone, daughter Martha L. Blackstone and her husband Robert J. Boyle, son Rodney B. Blackstone, and son Paul B. Mason, Jr., his wife Ocllo Robertson Mason and their sons Paul Brooks Mason, III, Philip D. Mason, and David R. Mason.

Franklin graduated from West View High School in 1945, from the University of Pittsburgh College of Arts & Sciences Cum Laude in 1949, receiving the ODK Senior Award that year, and from its Law School in 1952. Called by the Lord to the profession, he practiced law for 62 years in Pittsburgh, Cranberry Township and North Hills, from 1989 as Shareholder and Director and from 2002 as Senior Counsel with Goehring, Rutter & Boehm, retiring in 2014. He served hundreds of the honest, responsible and dedicated persons who made this country a model for the world in their personal and business affairs, including a number of exceptional entrepreneurial small business owners. He was also the Solicitor in organizing the Northern Area Special Schools and what is now known as the Beattie Career Center in McCandless, as well as the Forbes Trail Voc-Tech School in Monroeville. In 1958-9 he was an Assistant United States Attorney.

He was involved in a number of church and community activities, including, at various times, serving as an Elder, Chair of Finance and Nominating and Transitional Committees at the First Presbyterian Church of Bakerstown, Director and Director Emeritus of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy since 1975, Chair of the Board and Director Emeritus at Jumonville (a Christian Camp and Conference Center near Uniontown) since 1968 and its Foundation, Conference Lay Leader of the United Methodist Western Pennsylvania Conference 1976-1979, Lay Delegate to five United Methodist General Conferences, President of the Cranberry Rotary, President of the Pittsburgh Concert Chorale, Chairman of the Cranberry Township Planning Commission and of its Zoning Hearing Board, Chairman of the Allegheny Bar Association Public Relations Committee and of the Religious and Charitable (now Tax Exempt) Organizations Section. He was a Certified Parliamentarian by the American Institute of Parliamentarians, and served as the Parliamentarian for the biennial national conventions of the National Association of Postal Supervisors from 1952 to 2012. He had served in the US Army Reserve for over 15 years, retiring as a Captain. For some years early in his career, he taught in both the undergraduate school and Law School and coached the debate team at the University of Pittsburgh. He was a season subscriber to the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra for over 50 years, was a longtime season ticket holder for Pitt football and basketball games, and a devoted Pirate fan who was present for an inside-the park home run by Roberto Clemente, John Candalaria's no-hitter, and the first-ever night World Series game in Pittsburgh. He received the 2018 Pitt ROC Spirit Award. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Bakerstown, the Duquesne Club, the Sons of the American Revolution, and Dallas Lodge, F&AM. Interestingly, he had also been at various times a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the Pennsylvania Christmas Tree Growers Association, and the Florida Orange Growers Association.

He composed two volumes of what he called "Legacy in Print" including stories of some events of his life, commentaries on current affairs, reminders of special events of America's proud history, and tributes as memorials for or greetings to friends and family. He led a weekly morning Bible study in his office for over 20 years. He enjoyed planning scavenger hunts indoors and outdoors for grandchildren and friends. He loved the land, and created beauty anywhere he lived. He planted and inventoried 36 varieties of trees at Cedar Ridge Farm. He particularly enjoyed the annual Daffodil Day when he and Bonnie invited friends and family to share the thousands of daffodils he had planted over the years at their beloved Cedar Ridge Farm. He and Bonnie had the privilege of memorable travel experiences in the United States, St. John USVI, Canada, Scotland and other parts of the UK and western Europe.

On a personal note, he and his late former wife, Barbara took their children during their growing-up years to visit 47 of the lower 48 states, St. John, USVI, and seven of the provinces of Canada, specifically including significant historical places and natural wonders.

He believed the Lord blessed him with good health, cherished friends and clients, a wonderful wife of 39 years and a loving family. He endeavored to be a faithful servant of the Lord who so richly blessed him.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Bakerstown on Saturday, October 18, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will be on Friday, October 17, 2025 from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at Schellhaas Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 5864 Heckert Road, Bakerstown, PA A private inurnment will be held at Zion Cemetery, Cranberry Township, where five generations of his family are buried.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Endowment Fund of the Jumonville Foundation, 887 Jumonville Road, Hopwood, PA 15445, the Natural Areas Endowment Fund of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, 800 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or the First Presbyterian Church of Bakerstown, P.O. 127, Bakerstown, PA 15007.