Virginia "Jenny" Mae (Hutchins) Blackwood

Virginia “Jenny” Blackwood 78, of Carmel, passed away April 18, 2026.  She was born September 3, 1947, in Dayton, OH, daughter of Everett and Mary (Hammack) Hutchins. Jenny was a mother, artist, and a businesswoman. She was a lifelong lover of nature, animals and the country lifestyle.

She took her children fishing and camping and adored visiting her parents in their home crafted from the ground up by her father Everett. She often said that heaven was a fresh tomato from her father's garden with a saltshaker enjoyed on their property. Jenny spent much of her life designing ceramic giftware and beautiful crafted items which she sold. Jenny was the Craft Lady on local television in Terre Haute in the early 80s. She had made dough art and dried flower arrangements to sell at fairs and gift shops throughout the Midwest.  In the mid 1980’s, Jenny started the Great American Pie Co. and designed beautiful, heirloom giftware, including the signature ceramic pie pan with a pie top lid, sold and shipped domestically and internationally as far as Sweden and Japan.

Jenny transitioned into corporate life and spent the rest of her working years in Accounts Receivable and Corporate Collections for such companies as Lion Apparel and ADT.
Carmel was where Jenny and her husband, Howard, spent their retirement enjoying bird watching at their many birdfeeders and the surrounding wildlife which included foxes and squirrels. She and Howard were the human servants of their cat, Miss Kitty, and she took great joy in sharing stories of the animals and nature in their lives.
Jenny lost her battle with dementia, and it is with relief that we release her to her Lord.

Jenny was a firm believer that she would be reunited with her family and her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ after death.

In addition to her parents, Jenny was preceded in death by her husband, Howard L. Blackwood; sister, Louise Dunkleberger; nephew, David Dunkleberger; and niece, Amanda Hutchins.

Survivors include her son, John E. Nepsa (Gina Née Bentz) and daughter, ElizaBeth E. Goode Née Nepsa (Jeremy) and granddaughter, Katrina E. Nepsa.

Carmel Cemetery will be the final resting place for Jenny and Howard.

Arrangements entrusted to Bussell Family Funerals.



 

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