Richard M. Blackburn

Richard M. Blackburn, 95, of Carol Stream, Ill., and Ft. Meyers, Fla., and formerly of Bedford, died Monday, May 11, 2015, at Windsor Park Manor in Carol Stream, Ill. He was born on July 3, 1919, in Cumberland, Md., a son of the late Jay and Vera (McCallion) Blackburn. 

On November 22, 1952, in Oak Park, Ill., he married Eunice (Carrieri) Blackburn and she survives along with three sons: Richard M. Blackburn of Irving, Tex, Joseph Blackburn of Lombard, Ill., and David T. Blackburn of Libby and five grandchildren. 

Mr. Blackburn was a graduate of East St. Clair High School in Fishertown, Penn., in 1936 and a graduate of Rider College, in Trenton, N.J., in 1941. He worked in the freight traffic department of the Pennsylvania Railroad in Cleveland, Ohio and Pittsburgh, Penn., before serving in World War II.

He enlisted in the Army in April of 1942 as a private in the Army Air Corps. He later requested a transfer to the Army infantry. He graduated from the Infantry School in Columbus, Ga., in August of 1943 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the infantry. He was later sent to Normandy in France as a replacement officer in June of 1944. He was wounded three times in France. After recovering in England, he returned to combat in Germany in December of 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge. He was wounded a fourth time near Cologne in Germany in February of 1945.

He then spent three years in Army hospitals and was separated from the service in July of 1948, with the rank of Captain. From the United States he was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Good Conduct Medal, European Campaign with three battle stars and other awards. From France he was awarded the Legion of Honor Medal and the Jubilee of Liberty Medal from Normandy.

After the war he returned to work for the Pennsylvania Railroad. In 1951, he returned to Bedford to go into the hardware and building supply business, with his brother Tom and his father Jay and operated Jay Blackburn and Sons, until the business was sold in 1985. 

He was a member of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church in Bedford, the Church at Siesta Bay in Ft. Meyers, Flor., and the Christian Congregation in Wood Dale, Ill., He spent a great amount of time during retirement writing his WWII memoirs; which were published in the 2013 book, “In the Company of Heroes.” He was also a lay speaker and spoke in area churches.