Visitation will be from 9-10:45 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, at Graystone Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 640 Church St, Indiana, Pa. with a Celebration of Life Service at 11 a.m. After the service there will be a continuation of visitation time to greet the family -- as well as a luncheon -- in the Gathering Place of the church. Guests are invited to join the family at lunch for a time of sharing of stories about Bill's life.
An impressive career in wrestling
Bill BlacksmithBack in the mid-1960s, NAIA champs automatically qualified for the NCAA wrestling championships. At the 1965 NCAAs in Wyoming, the unseeded Blacksmith made it to the semifinals but did not place. The following year, Blacksmith won the 145-pound crown at the 1966 NCAAs at Iowa State. The unseeded Blacksmith shut out top-seeded Jim Rogers of Oklahoma State, 5-0, in the semifinals ... then defeated No. 3 seed Dale Bahr of Iowa State, 7-1, to win the title.
Once he stepped off the mat, Blacksmith continued his career in wrestling as a coach. He served as head wrestling coach at Indiana University of Pennsylvania from 1969-1985. Later in life, he shared his experience as a volunteer coach at Laurel High School in New Castle, and to United High School in Armagh.
For all his accomplishments in wrestling, Blacksmith had been welcomed into a number of halls of fame, including the Pennsylvania Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1979, Lock Haven College Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1983, Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 1990, and Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Hall of Fame in 1995.
Education accomplishments
Blacksmith earned his B.S. degree in Physical Education from Lock Haven University. He attended IUP for his master's degree in Counseling and Guidance and earned his doctoral degree from West Virginia University in Psychology of Sport.
His career began as a physical education teacher in Homer Center School District and then he began teaching at IUP.
Blacksmith became a full professor in the Health and Physical Education Department, where he taught numerous undergraduate courses and also taught in the graduate school as a sport psychologist.
As the tribute in the Indiana Gazette put it, "He thought he had finished his education, when God called him into the pastoral ministry. Bill attended Fuller Theological Seminary and earned a Master of Divinity degree in 1992.
"He retired from teaching in 2002 to pursue a calling to full-time Christian Ministry."
Blacksmith was an ordained Elder in the Presbyterian Church for over 45 years. He served along with his wife, Linda, on the staff of Graystone Presbyterian Church for 14 years as co-directors of Spiritual Formation and Discipleship. He served as associate pastor at Graystone from 1999 to 2004; as pastor of Highland Presbyterian Church in New Castle from 2005-2010; and as Life Group Ministry director at Grace Chapel in Hermitage from 2010-2014.
Bill Blacksmith, front row, second from the left, wrestled at Lock HavenMore about the man
Tom Elling, honored Pennsylvania wrestling journalist, has known Bill Blacksmith for decades, going back to their time as teammates on the Lock Haven wrestling team in the mid-1960s.
"He was a fierce competitor and had an unstoppable sit out and a brutal tight waist," Elling told InterMat. "He was determined to win the NCAA. Gray Simons was our coach. Three-time All American Jerry Swope, NCAA champ Ken Melchoir, Bill's brother Jim -- also an All American -- along with great coach Dick Rhoades and NAIA camps Frank Eisenhower and Adam Waltz were on that team."
"Bill will be very much missed by us all."
The Indiana Gazette weighed in on William Blacksmith the man.
"Bill had a zeal for life and a heart for people. He was a generous, joyful and fun-loving man who cherished his family and loved spending time with them. His children and grandchildren were his pride and joy. He and Linda had a special relationship as husband and wife and ministry partners. They were often referred to as being 'joined at the hip.'"
The Rev. Dr. William Blacksmith is survived by his wife of 54 years, Linda Hall Blacksmith; his three children, William A. Blacksmith IV and wife Debbie, of Plum; Elizabeth Ann Bracken and husband Ed, of Vintondale; and Richard A. Fleming and wife Brenda, of Wilcox. Bill has six grandchildren: Desire Lecker and husband Travis; Matthew Blacksmith; Caleb Bracken; Michaela Bracken; Luke Blacksmith; and Gideon Bracken; and two great-grandchildren: Tabitha Lecker and Maverick Lecker. Bill has a brother, Jim and wife Jody, of Harrisburg; a brother-in-law, Ned Hall and wife Kate of Media; nephew Doug Blacksmith and wife Melissa, of Camp Hill; niece Jill Boyle and husband Brendan, of Philadelphia; and niece Rachel Martin and husband Dan, of Oxford. Bill has numerous cousins.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Bill's memory to Graystone Evangelical Presbyterian Church for the Life Group Ministry, 640 Church St, Indiana, PA, 15701, or for the Life Community Ministry at Pawleys Island Community Church, 10304 Ocean Highway, Pawleys Island, SC, 29585.
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