BLACKWOOD, JR., George

West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona January 15, 2010 George Blackwood Jr., 66, of Phoenix died on Jan. 6, 2010, in Phoenix. Mr. Blackwood was born June 25, 1943, in Bucyrus, Ohio. He grew up in Michigan. He was Michigan's Oakland County wrestling champion in 1960. He received bachelor's and master's degrees in English from the University of Michigan and an ABD (all but dissertation) degree from Bowling Green University in Ohio. He was a reporter and editor at several newspapers. He was also a professor at several colleges, including Estrella Mountain Community College. He moved to Arizona in 2005. He is survived by his companion of 20 years, Barbara Campbell; five stepchildren; one brother Robert Lee; and four step-grandchildren. An eco-burial was held Jan. 12 at Sunwest Funeral Home and Cemetery in El Mirage. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date in Michigan. Memorials may be made to Doctors Without Borders USA, P.O. Box 5030, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5030; or to Amnesty International USA, 5 Penn Plaza, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10001. Visit the Web site heritagefuneralchapels.com to leave condolences for the family.