James Richard Blackburn

James Richard Blackburn, age 87, passed away Friday, August 9, 2019 in Houston, Texas.  He was born April 14, 1932 in Mt. Vernon, Indiana to Walter and Martha Knight Blackburn.  Following high school, he proudly served in the United States Air Force as a radar technician until his retirement.  After the military, he was the owner and operator of his own cabinet shop in Texas. James closed out his work years as a gate attendant for the Army Corps of Engineers.

He is preceded in death by two sons, David and James Blackburn.

James is survived by his wife, Margie; his children, Timothy E. Blackburn and wife Laura A., Thomas G. Blackburn and wife Kim, and Dolly Huff and husband Clint; grandchildren, Jamie A. Murphy, Kim Lee Couch, Chrissie Jones, Laura Duran, and Diane Eure; great-grandchildren, Allana F. and Aiden H.J. Goddard, Devin M.T. Murphy, Alexis and Brianna Wilson, Kami Couch, Skyler Smith, McKenna and Parkyr Jones, Austin and Alexis Duran, and Logan Eure; step-children, David M. Sanders and wife Elizabeth, Terri L. Reed, and John W. Sanders and wife Laura; step-grandchildren, Tell, Aurthur, Jeramiah, Elicia, Jacey, and Skylar Sanders, Tony Reed,  Samantha Sanders; and step-great-grandchildren,  Jessica and Laura Sanders.

Funeral services will be held Friday, August 16, 2019 in the chapel of Davis-Watkins Funeral Home, 1474 Highway 83, DeFuniak Springs, Florida 32433, beginning at 11:00 a.m. with Minister Joel Davis officiating. A time of visitation be held one hour prior.  Committal services will follow in Gaskin Cemetery.