Rosa Lee Blackiston

Rosa Lee Johnson Blackiston, age 91, of Bel Air, MD, passed away on April 10, 2012 at Dacota Assisted Living in Whiteford, MD. Born in Wythe County, VA on October 5, 1920 to Arthur H. Johnson Sr. and Virginia Freeman Johnson, she was also the wife of the late John Francis Blackiston. A Harford County resident for most of her life, she had worked at Edgewood Arsenal during WWII manufacturing gas masks and at Bel Air Jewelry Store for 25 years. She was a member of Bel Forest Baptist Church, enjoyed bowing and won many trophies, and was a loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother.

Mrs. Blackiston is survived by her daughter Cherie Pennington of Aberdeen, MD; son, Philip Blackiston and his wife, Linda of Bel Air, MD; grandchildren, Troy Pennington, Ashley Blackiston and Erin Wells; great grandchildren, Alexis Blackiston, Colton Wells, Abigail, Emily and Hannah Pennington; and one brother, Arthur H. Johnson Jr. of Mount Airy, NC. In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by a grandson, Scott Pennington, sisters, Mary Catherine Minter, Gladys Marie Bauman, Helen Elizabeth Shumate, Cecilia Maythorne Sills and Virginia Hazel Smith, and brothers, Clarence Ray Johnson, Emmett Ward Johnson, James Monroe Johnson and Warren Randell Johnson.

In lieu of flowers, a contribution can be made to The Samaritan Women Baltimore, MD, P.O. Box 9317, Catonsville, MD 21228 or Calvary United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 537, Churchville, MD 21028.