The Reverend Thomas Waller Blakelock, 71, of Princess Anne, MD was called home by his Savior after a long struggle with diabetes and cancer on Monday, March 28, 2016 at Peninsula
Regional Medical Center in Salisbury. Born September 4, 1944 in Coronado, CA, Tom was the son of the late Francis Luke Blakelock and Doris Waller Blakelock.
Tom served 20 years in the U.S. Navy and was stationed in San Francisco, San Diego, the Philippines, Okinawa, the Azores, Portugal, Spain and Washington, D.C. He worked as a cryptologic technician in the electronics field and retired as a Senior Chief Petty Officer in 1983. He was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, five Good Conduct awards as well as other medals and citations. While serving in the military, he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Maryland. Rev. Blakelock was ordained a deacon in the United Methodist Church in 1984 and as an elder in 1989. He graduated with a Master of Divinity degree from Wesley Theological Seminary in 1986. Tom served as a United Methodist Minister in churches across Worcester, Wicomico and Somerset Counties from 1983 to 2012.
He also served as a volunteer chaplain at Peninsula Regional Medical Center and at the Eastern Correctional Institution in Westover, was a volunteer ambulance driver for the Lower Somerset County Ambulance and Rescue Squad, and
served on the board of several local nonprofit organizations, including the McCready Foundation in Crisfield and MAC, Inc. in Salisbury.
Tom is survived by his wife of 49 years, Vivian Blakelock, his son Matthew Blakelock and daughter in law Kassie Jones Blakelock of Snow Hill, MD, his daughter Collee Blakelock and daughter in law Adrienne DeAngelo of Oakland, CA, his son John Blakelock and daughter in law Jade Shockley Blakelock of Pleasant Hill, CA, and his grandchildren: Kallie, Jack, Charley Gus, Enzo, Luke, Ezra and Cora. He was preceded in death by his daughter,
Jennifer Lynn Blakelock Adkins of Salisbury, MD.
A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday April 2, 2016 at 12:00 PM at Antioch United Methodist Church, in Princess Anne, MD. Friends may call one hour prior to the service from 11:00 to 12:00 PM. Interment will follow the service in the Beechwood Cemetery. The Rev. Bill Green will Officiate. Friends may also call at the Hinman Funeral Home on Friday, Apriil 1st from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Appalachia Service Project c/o Whatcoat UMC, 102 W. Federal St, Snow Hill MD 21863.
To leave condolences for the family, please visit www.hinmanfuneralhome.com.