Nathen Blackwell, resident of Ventura, CA, passed a way on June 16th., two months shy of his 96th birthday. He was surrounded by loved ones, listening to his favorite music.
Nathen was born August 22, 1928, in Hull England. There as a teenager he apprenticed as monument carver and went from roughing out stones to Master Stone Carver in a mere two years. His artistic skills served him well throughout his life not just in stone, but also as a pen and ink illustrator.
After immigrating to the United States with his first wife, Jill in 1958, he did restoration work at Hearst Castle, restored a Roman bath for actor Michael Douglas and eventually became the stone carver for the Ronald Reagan Library, in Simi Vally, carving donor names on it’s marble walls. He was privileged to carve Ronald and Nancy’s monument at the library, which brought him international recognition.
After the death of his first wife, he married Ventura resident Mildred Grunder with whom he shared 22 wonderful years filled with world travels until her death in 2019.
Nathen is survived by his daughter, Gaye Berger, granddaughter Kelsee Berger and step daughter from his first marriage Valerie Cardon DuBois. He was preceded in death by stepdaughter Marie Bedard, sons-in-law William Bedard, Wayne Cardon, and Larry DuBois.
Family and friends are invited to graveside funeral services to be officiated by the Reverend Dr. Leonard De Witt, Monday afternoon June 24, 2024 at 1:30pm in Santa Barbara Cemetery, 901 Channel Dr, Santa Barbara. Arrangements are under the direction of the BOYKO & REARDON TELEGRAPH ROAD MORTUARY & CREMATION, 15 Teloma Drive, Ventura.