1928
William
2015
William Blackford
March 28, 1928 — April 10, 2015
William (Bill) Vaughan Blackford, age 87 was born on March 28, 1928 and passed away on Friday, April 10, 2015.
He was the son of the late Nathan and Edine Vaughan Blackford, and brother of the late Edward Blackford.
He is survived by his loving wife Betty (Duke), who was his high school sweetheart whom he married on September 13, 1950, his children Bill Jr., 60 of Nashville, TN; Lesa, 58 of Franklin, TN; Barry, 53 of Nashville, TN; and granddaughter Bailey, 14 of Nashville, TN; along with other family relatives and friends.
Mr. Blackford graduated West End High School, Nashville, TN in 1946. He was a member of the U.S. Marine Corps from 1946 to 1948. He graduated Peabody/Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN in 1952.
He began his long and lustrous career in 1954 as office and traffic manager with Morton Packing Company, Nashville, TN. In 1957 he was transferred to Webster City, IA where he soon was promoted to General Plant Manager of Morton Frozen Foods. In 1965 Mr. Blackford moved to Russellville, AR to start up and manage the new Morton Frozen Foods location, the largest frozen food manufacturing plant in the United States at the time. In 1972 he was awarded the ITT Ring of Quality for the completion of the 1st Quality Improvement Program in ITT Continental Baking Company. In 1980 with ITT selling Morton Frozen Foods to Del Monte came a move to Charlottesville, VA where he managed Del Monte Frozen and Specialty Product in Crozet, VA until his retirement in 1986. Someone who certainly deserved a life of leisure, Mr. Blackford enjoyed working. Within a few days after his retirement announcement, Mr. Blackford headed back to Arkansas to accept a management position with Standard Meats subsidiary of Tyson Foods in Van Buren. Mr. Blackford lived in Fort Smith during this time until he was transferred in 1991 to Tyson Mexican Original in Fayetteville, AR. as complex manager overseeing a total of four plants in Arkansas and North Carolina. During this time the Blackford's lived in Springdale, AR until 2001 when Mr. Blackford finally retired. At that time the Blackford's moved back to their hometown of Nashville, TN to be near their children and other family relatives as he continued to travel and consult for Tyson Foods for the next two years.
Mr. Blackford enjoyed a great deal of his lifetime as a private pilot flying his single engine airplanes, a hobby he shared with his two sons. He loved traveling, especially by train. His love for travel took he and his family and friends throughout the United States and other countries. His most treasured time was spent being with his family who he loved dearly.
Mr. Blackford will be laid to rest at the Middle Tennessee Veterans Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, gifts in Mr. Blackford's honor may be made to the Fort Campbell/Nashville USO
Deepest appreciation goes to the Trauma Unit and the Palliative Care Program at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
He was the son of the late Nathan and Edine Vaughan Blackford, and brother of the late Edward Blackford.
He is survived by his loving wife Betty (Duke), who was his high school sweetheart whom he married on September 13, 1950, his children Bill Jr., 60 of Nashville, TN; Lesa, 58 of Franklin, TN; Barry, 53 of Nashville, TN; and granddaughter Bailey, 14 of Nashville, TN; along with other family relatives and friends.
Mr. Blackford graduated West End High School, Nashville, TN in 1946. He was a member of the U.S. Marine Corps from 1946 to 1948. He graduated Peabody/Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN in 1952.
He began his long and lustrous career in 1954 as office and traffic manager with Morton Packing Company, Nashville, TN. In 1957 he was transferred to Webster City, IA where he soon was promoted to General Plant Manager of Morton Frozen Foods. In 1965 Mr. Blackford moved to Russellville, AR to start up and manage the new Morton Frozen Foods location, the largest frozen food manufacturing plant in the United States at the time. In 1972 he was awarded the ITT Ring of Quality for the completion of the 1st Quality Improvement Program in ITT Continental Baking Company. In 1980 with ITT selling Morton Frozen Foods to Del Monte came a move to Charlottesville, VA where he managed Del Monte Frozen and Specialty Product in Crozet, VA until his retirement in 1986. Someone who certainly deserved a life of leisure, Mr. Blackford enjoyed working. Within a few days after his retirement announcement, Mr. Blackford headed back to Arkansas to accept a management position with Standard Meats subsidiary of Tyson Foods in Van Buren. Mr. Blackford lived in Fort Smith during this time until he was transferred in 1991 to Tyson Mexican Original in Fayetteville, AR. as complex manager overseeing a total of four plants in Arkansas and North Carolina. During this time the Blackford's lived in Springdale, AR until 2001 when Mr. Blackford finally retired. At that time the Blackford's moved back to their hometown of Nashville, TN to be near their children and other family relatives as he continued to travel and consult for Tyson Foods for the next two years.
Mr. Blackford enjoyed a great deal of his lifetime as a private pilot flying his single engine airplanes, a hobby he shared with his two sons. He loved traveling, especially by train. His love for travel took he and his family and friends throughout the United States and other countries. His most treasured time was spent being with his family who he loved dearly.
Mr. Blackford will be laid to rest at the Middle Tennessee Veterans Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, gifts in Mr. Blackford's honor may be made to the Fort Campbell/Nashville USO
Deepest appreciation goes to the Trauma Unit and the Palliative Care Program at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Service Information
Middle Tennessee Veterans Cemetery
Interment Details
Middle Tennessee Veterans Cemetery
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of William Blackford, please visit our flower store.
Guestbook
Visits: 11
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors