Toledo Free Press

Sally Blakelock Kuzmanov, 88, a resident of Oregon, Ohio, passed away peacefully on April 23, 2024. She was born in Catskill, New York, the daughter of Eden and Gertrude (Slater) Blakelock, and lived there until she started college in Keuka Park. Later, she lived near Stewart Air Force Base for several years. Sally lived in Roswell, New Mexico from 1959-1960; spent 5 years at Homestead Air Reserve Base in Homestead, FL; South Toledo, Ohio from 1967 to 2009; moving to Oregon, Ohio in 2009.

Sally graduated from Keuka College in 1958 with a degree in nursing. She worked at the Medical College of Ohio for over 20 years until her retirement in 1996.

Sally enjoyed knitting, embroidery, playing the organ and piano, singing, square dancing, art (painting), gardening and baking. She was a long-time member of the German-American Club Choir.

Sally will be lovingly remembered as a strong-willed and tenacious woman with an astonishing amount of grit and determination. She survived a catastrophic car crash the year before her graduation. Despite this and her long recovery, she went on to graduate a year later and had a long career. Sally will be remembered for her generosity. She gifted an incredible number of hand knit scarves and hats as well as donating them to many causes. She also participated in the Christmas Around the World celebration at The Toledo Zoo many times, contributing both her baking skills and her time setting up and manning booths.

Sally will be missed by her two sons, Carl Perkins and Eden Perkins; her daughters-in-law, Janet Perkins (m. Eden) and Debrah Ferguson (m. George); and her grandchildren, Gretchen Perkins and Alexandra Ferguson. She was preceded in death by her husband, Strahil Kuzmanov; sons, George Perkins and Daniel Perkins; parents, Eden Blakelock and Gertrude Slater-Blakelock; and her brother, George Blakelock.

A Funeral Service for Sally will be held on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at 11:00 AM at Walker Funeral Home – Oregon Chapel, 3500 Navarre Avenue. Interment will immediately follow in the Willow Cemetery, 1961 Pickle Road, Oregon, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be directed to the American Cancer Society. Online condolences may be shared by visiting www.walkerfuneralhomes.com.