Obituary of Charles B. Blackburn

Dr. Charles Byron Blackburn, PhD, age 78, of Old US 421, Sugar Grove, died Tuesday, December 8, 2009 morning at home. Born May 29, 1931 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, he was a son of the late Richard and Dorothy Kaiser Blackburn. Charles graduated from Ball State Teachers University with a BS in History and Physical Education in 1955 and obtained both his Masters and PhD in American History from Ball State in 1969. While in Indiana her taught high school and was a basketball coach. Dr. Blackburn taught history at Appalachian State University from 1969 until 1996. He was granted Emeritus Status from Appalachian State in December of 1996. He was a founding member and first President of the North Carolina Society of College Professors in Social Sciences. Charlie was an accomplished golfer and loved the Boone Golf Club and the camaraderie with the Dogfighters. Surviving are: his wife; Sandy Deal, four children; Cynthia Gore and husband Bill of Cuthbert, GA, Rebecca Lapping and husband Stephan of Pinehurst, David Blackburn of Austin, TX and Michael Blackburn and wife Caroline of Moyock, NC and their mother; Sue Tilson of Boone, two step children, Lisa Laney of Asheville and Julian Laney of Austin, TX, one sister; Suzanne Ireland and husband Joe of Auburn, IN, one brother James Blackburn and wife Dianne of Bay Village, OH, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; and three step grandchildren, his mother-in-law; Jennie Lee Deal of Boone, and two brothers-in-law, Jim Deal of Boone and Harvey Deal of Cornelius. He was preceded in death by his parents; Richard and Dorothy Blackburn and one brother Jack Blackburn. The family will receive friends Saturday afternoon from 2 o'clock until 3:30 at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home. The family respectfully requests no food or flowers and suggests memorials to High Country Health Care System Hospice, 400 Shadowline Drive, suite 100-B, Boone, NC 28607 or online at highcountryhospice.org or to the Watauga Humane Society, PO Box 1835, Boone, NC 28607. Online condolences may be sent to the Blackburn family at austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Blackburn family.