Sally Trowbridge Blackwelder

1931 - 2022

Sally Trowbridge Blackwelder
April 14, 1931 - February 21, 2022
Chapel Hill , North Carolina - Sally Trowbridge Blackwelder, born April 14, 1931 to Frederick George Trowbridge and Marie Guyler Trowbridge, passed away on February 21, 2022 in Chapel Hill, NC with her children by her side.
Sally was born and reared in Hamilton, OH. After attending Western College for Women in Oxford, OH, she transferred to UNC Chapel Hill to study chemistry. There, she fell in love with George Sumter Blackwelder, Jr. They were married on December 27, 1952 and spent his two-year tour in the US Air Force in Germany before returning to George's hometown of Hickory, NC, where they resided until his passing in 2016.
In 1963, First Presbyterian Church commissioned Sally, George, and 24 other church members to start Northminster Presbyterian. Sally recalled this endeavor as her life's most spiritual experience. In 2015, Sally was honored as a Life Member of the Women of the Presbyterian Church.
A lifelong volunteer and philanthropist who served on numerous committees and boards of directors, Sally was perhaps best known as a founder of The Catawba Science Center. She and George also founded Hickory Project Potential, a dropout prevention program to identify and incentivize Hickory High School students to achieve their full academic potential by providing them mentoring and scholarships. Sally was a teacher at heart, and she dedicated her life to encouraging others to reach beyond their perceived limitations.
Sally approached everything with curiosity and creativity. She wrote, "I've seldom received an answer that did not demand further questioning." An accomplished artist and writer, she chronicled her thoughts throughout her life. In 1995, she wrote:
"In every tree I see a cross,
in every child the hand of God.
In every blossom and wave on the shore
I feel my humble being soar.
Then wondering how and demanding why,
I hear the patient sigh
of the One who is my soul
and gives me peace."
Drawing inspiration from the wonders of nature, Sally painted her emotions on canvas. She donated countless hours and artwork to the Service League of Hickory, Catawba Science Center, Hickory Choral Society, and Hickory Landmark Society Home and Garden Tour. In 2008, Lenoir-Rhyne College awarded Sally the Doctorate of Humanities in recognition of her impact on the Hickory community.
With her talents, Sally could have been many things, but she considered her greatest achievements to be her children and their families. Affectionately known as Saddy by her family, she was the glue that kept them together. Her love for her family was unconditional and unwavering.
Sally is survived by her three children and their families: son Chip Blackwelder (Cathy) of Isle of Palms, SC, and children Erin Devine (Joey), Alli Wengert (Ben), and Emery; son Dan Blackwelder (Sandy) of Blowing Rock, NC, and children Sarah and Alex; daughter Liz Powell (David) of Cornelius, NC, and children Andrew and Charley; and great grandchildren, Mason, Henley, and Hudson Devine. She is also survived by her brother James S. Trowbridge (Christina) of Spartanburg, SC, and niece Nicole Engler (Hans-Joerg) and their children.
The family will have a celebration of Sally's life on Saturday, May 14 from 2-4 pm at The Shuford House and Gardens located at 534 3rd Ave NW in Hickory.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to:
Project Potential
c/o Hickory Public Schools
Education Foundation
432 Fourth Ave SW
Hickory, NC 28602