Whether clearing sidewalks of snow or simply being polite, customer service was "all in a day's work" during "Blackie" Blackstock's 30-plus-years as a door-to-door milkman in Coraopolis, Moon and Neville Island. As a youngster growing up on his family's farm in Greenville, Mercer County, Charles Blackstock milked his share of cows before leaving to attend a one-room school house. Charles G. "Blackie" Blackstock, of West View, died Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007, at UPMC Passavant, McCandless. He was 93. "When my grandparents moved to Avalon in the early 1930s, Dad held a number of jobs before he met my mother and went to work as a milkman," said John Blackstock. "My parents met at a roller skating rink," he added. "They were married in 1941 and made their home in Sewickley when Dad became a milkman for Sewickley Dairy. "In the late '40s, Dad joined the Otto Suburban Dairy, where he worked until he retired in 1970." John Blackstock recalled his father's dedication to his 225 customers. "During one big snow, Dad shoveled several steps to make his deliveries. On another occasion, he crawled across a slippery street in Coraopolis because of the ice. "And when he took me with him, he stressed the importance of being polite with the customers and to ask if they had everything they needed," his son added. Charlene Peffer recalled how her father made it a point to be with his family after finishing his shift, which began at 4 a.m. "Dad was a very strong man with strong hands. The grandchildren enjoyed watching him crush metal objects," she added. Mr. Blackstock is survived by a son, John L. Blackstock of St. Charles, Mo.; a daughter, Charlene A. Peffer of Harmony, Butler County, five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. His wife of 58 years, Alice M. Frederick Blackstock, died in 1999. A brother, George Blackstock, also preceded him in death. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. today at Schellhaas Funeral Home, 388 Center Ave., West View. Burial will be in Allegheny County Memorial Park, McCandless.

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