Paul Blackburn

Paul Blackburn, 85, of Drexel, NC passed away Tuesday, November 22, 2016.  Born in Mitchell County, NC on July 25, 1931, he was the son of the late Arthur Blackburn and Dolly Duncan Blackburn.  Paul was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War and was awarded the Korean War Service Medal.  He was a member and deacon of Amherst Baptist Church and retired from Great Lakes Carbon.  Paul loved gardening and was considered to be the mayor of Poteat Drive in Drexel.  Mr. Blackburn was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather who loved his family dearly.

Paul is survived by his daughter, Paula Blackburn Lawing and husband, Robert, of Conover, NC; grandsons, Nolan Isenhour of Conover and Noah Lawing of Franklin, TN; brothers, Jim Blackburn of Spruce Pine, NC and Bobby Blackburn and wife, Marcheta, of Burnsville, NC; a sister, JoAnn Blackburn Snyder and husband, Phillip, of Spruce Pine; and a number of nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Paul was preceded in death by his wife, Kayre Reel Blackburn; and a sister, Ruth Blackburn Thomas.

The family will receive friends from 1:30pm to 3:30pm, Saturday, November 26, 2016 at Amherst Baptist Church.  The funeral will be held at the church at 3:30pm with the Rev. Al Tinnin and the Rev. Harold Joplin officiating.  Entombment will follow in Burke Memorial Park Mausoleum.  Military honors will be provided by the Caldwell County Veterans Honors Guard the N.C. National Guard.

Memorial contributions may be made to the COPD Foundation, 3300 Ponce De Leon Blvd, Miami, FL 33134 or to Amherst Baptist Church, 1024 Amherst Road, Morganton, NC 28655.

Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.