Katherine "Kathy" Blackburn

Katherine (Kathy) Blackburn, 73, passed away on Friday, February 24, 2017, at her home of natural causes. She was born February 10,1944, in Rexburg, ID, the second daughter of Don and Helen Willmore Blackburn. Her younger years were spent in Rigby, Idaho before moving to Blackfoot in 1957. She graduated from Blackfoot High School in 1962. She later attended and graduated from Steven Henager Business College in Salt Lake City, UT. She remained in Salt Lake where she met, and later married, Lyle Wilkinson in 1964. On December 1,1964, she gave birth to their son, Lloyd Jere Wilkinson. Katherine and Lyle divorced. She married Thomas Rich, who adopted Lloyd, and after many years together they divorced. After the divorce, Kathy reclaimed her maiden name. Kathy had a lifelong career in the Accounting Department at the Department of Energy in Idaho Falls and worked there until she retired in July, 2010. She spent her free time playing golf, singing, playing bridge, playing piano, traveling, reading, and spending time with her family. Anyone that met her knew how caring and radiant of a human she was. An adventurous soul, she always knew how to make people smile and always wanted to befriend everyone she met. She was never afraid of challenges and even climbed Machu Picchu while lugging around a heavy tank of oxygen. Her faith in God was strong and she was the type of person who brought warmth and light into the world. She will be sorely missed. She is survived by her son, Lloyd Rich of Idaho Falls, granddaughter, Samantha Rich of Pocatello, grandson, Jacob Rich of Idaho Falls; and her siblings, Elsie Dawn (Ronald) Caldwell of Idaho Falls, and Joyce (Leigh) Cox of Lakeside, AZ. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Heber Jay Blackburn. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 4, 2017, at Wood Funeral Home (273 N. Ridge) in Idaho Falls. The family will visit with friends on Saturday from 10-10:45 a.m. prior to the services at the funeral home.

Funeral Services will be held