Pat Blackburn, wife of Sonics broadcaster Bob Blackburn, passes on

I just learned about the passing of Pat Blackburn, the wife of Sonics broadcasting legend Bob Blackburn. She wasn't just a Sonics' bride. She was a part of Sonics history in her own right, having written columns for the Sonics game day programs back in the day.

A couple years back, I recorded a podcast with Pat and her son, Bob. It is posted once again below, along with her obituary. In it, she spoke with glowing love of her late husband. She also expressed a desire to see the Sonics come home. I wish she could have seen it happen. When asked the best thing Sonic fans could do for her family, she simply asked that we not forget Bob. We never will forget him or her.

Bob Blackburn Remembered

OBITUARY

Patricia Joan Hardin Blackburn

Pat was born to Flora East and Dick Hardin in Wasco, CA October 13, 1927 and attended schools in Madera and Chowchilla, CA before graduating from California State University with a BA in physical education where she was president of Kappa Kappa Gamma. She met and married sportscaster Bob Blackburn in 1948. After teaching for a time at Fresno State, they moved to Portland, OR where they lived for 18 years and Pat was active in church, schools, dance and music. The family, now grown to 6 children moved to Bellevue, WA when Bob was named original "Voice" of the Seattle SuperSonics and Pat wrote a column for the Sonic's program. She was active in the First United Methodist Church of Bellevue where she was lay leader, lay delegate to Conference, and UMW president. A member of the Lake Washington Assn. of Kappa Kappa Gamma, she won the Mary Maxwell Gates Award for volunteerism. The Bellevue Soroptimist Club also presented her their "Women Helping Women" Award. Pat was president of Chapter DI of P.E.O. and president of Eastside Reciprocity P.E.O. She was a member of the Jamestowne Society, Great Northeast Company of Jamestowne Society, National Society of Daughters of American Colonists and National Society of Colonial Clergy, DAR, and the Magna Charta Society.

Bob and Pat hosted cruise and land tours and worked hundreds of charity auctions. They were spokespeople for Timber Ridge at Talus.

Preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, her parents, her sister Martha Elizabeth, and her brother Dr. R.M. Hardin. She is survived by her sister Charlotte Lesan of Madera, CA and children - Bob Hollywood, CA, Beth (Jason) Bellevue, WA, Stan (Laura) Mansfield, TX, David (Ivy) Allen, TX, Bonnie (David) Colorado Springs, CO, Kathy Allen, TX, 19 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the stain glass window at First United Methodist Church, Bellevue.

Services will be held Friday February 26, 2pm at the First United Methodist Church 1934 108th Avenue NE Bellevue, WA 98004.