Bobby Blackburn

Maj. Bobby L. Blackburn (Ret), 80, Clarksville, died Tuesday, May 11, 2010, at Gateway Medical Center. A celebration of life service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at McReynolds-Nave & Larson Chapel with Rev. Dorothy Hartzog officiating. Burial will be in Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West, Hopkinsville, with full military honors. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. McReynolds-Nave & Larson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. He was born October 28, 1929 in Newton, NC and was the son of the late, Robert and Brent Smith Blackburn. Maj. Blackburn served 20 years in the U.S. Army as a pilot; earning five air medals. He flew thirteen different types of helicopters and fixed wing aircraft and served in Korea and Vietnam. Bobby was a "Green Beret" in the Special Forces who led a six-ship of C7 Caribou Aircraft from Fort Benning, GA to Thailand. He graduated from Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, KS. After retiring from the Army he worked in Finance and Accounting at Ft. Campbell, KY. He was a life time member of the Army Otter-Caribou Association, MOAA, 11th Airborne Division Association - Fort Campbell Chapter and the National 11th Airborne Association. He also served as a Past President of the Clarksville Lions Club. Survivors include his wife, Doris Suiter Blackburn, Clarksville; son, Lt. Col. Stephen (JoAnne) Blackburn (Ret), Clarksville; daughter, Debra (George) Blackburn Suzich, Bethesda, MD; brother, Harold Blackburn, NC; sister Catherine Garrett, North Carolina; grandchildren, Erin (Steve) Strinni, Ryan Blackburn, Jon Suzich, Kristen Suzich; great-grandchildren, Riley, Sam, Evan; and several loving nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942. Arrangements in the care of McReynolds-Nave & Larson, (931)647-3371.