January 23, 1969 – August 8, 2026
Emmett Wade Blackwell, 57, of Bedford, passed away on August 8, 2026, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Born January 23, 1969, in Bedford, he was the son of Jay and Gale (Thompson) Blackwell. He worked as a Safety Director at McIntyre Brothers and was an avid pool player and loved his time on the tables and hanging with all his friends. He was very proud of his kids and loved them so much, his favorite thing to do was spend time with his kids and their spouses, who he loved as his own.
Upon graduation from Harrison High School in West Lafayette Indiana, Emmett Wade Blackwell (Wade) enlisted in the US Army as a Non-Morse Interceptor Analyst and promptly reported to Boot Camp at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Once he graduated from Boot Camp, Wade was sent to Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL for 98K10 Non-Morse Interceptor Analyst School. As a Non-Morse Interceptor Analyst, Wade would be responsible for performing and supervising the collection, identification, exploitation, and analysis of foreign radio teletype, facsimile and data communications.
After graduation, Wade was ordered to Field Station Berlin in Berlin West Germany, to the Front Line of the Cold War. While serving at Field Station Berlin, Wade was instrumental in capturing Signals Intelligence from East Germany and the USSR.
Therefore, this played a role in the eventual collapse of the Berlin Wall. On 09 November 1989, Wade was on the Berlin Wall, hammer and chisel in hand, helping to physically bring down the Berlin Wall. Upon completion of his service in the US Army, Wade moved to Bedford, IN, married Cheryl Hillenburg-Blackwell, and together they raised two children.
He is survived by his wife, Cheryl of Bedford; his mother, Gale of Mitchell; one son, Daniel (Eve) Blackwell of Bedford; one daughter, Anna (Zack) Haltom of Bedford; two grandchildren, Avery and Avril Blackwell; three brothers, David (Tina) Blackwell of Bedford, Bryon (Lori) Blackwell of Bedford, and Scott (Gretchen) Blackwell of Westpoint.
He was preceded in death by his father.
A Celebration of Life will be scheduled at a later date.
Friends and family may express condolences at www.daycarter.com.
