09/22/2006

Notification of Death - Doyle Eugene Blackburn

September 19, 2006

OFDA received word this morning that Doyle Eugene Blackburn, age 81 of Grafton died Tuesday evening, September 19, in Elyria Memorial Hospital after a long illness. Mr. Blackburn worked for the Fulton Funeral Home as a funeral director until purchasing the business in 1979 and building a new funeral home in 1995. He had retired in 2003 after serving Grafton and surrounding communities for 43 years. He was a 1943 Hopedale High School graduate and a 1949 graduate of the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. Mr. Blackburn served in the US Army during WWII in France and Germany as an airplane mechanic on L4 and L5 cub planes. Mr. Blackburn was a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, Ohio Funeral Directors Association, Greater Lorain Funeral Directors Association and the Ohio Embalmers Association.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years Lois (nee Parrish); two daughters, Karen Dawson and Donna Johns, both of Grand Blanc, Michigan and by his son David Blackburn of Grafton. Also surviving are eight grandchildren, two great grandchildren, his brother Paul Blackburn of Cadiz, Ohio and the boys: Bandit, Smokey and Puff. He was preceded in death by his parents George and Maude Blackburn, sister Sara Carmen and by brothers Ralph, Wilbur and Raymond.

Friends may call in the Blackburn-Duke Funeral Home, 1021 Main Street, Grafton on Sunday, September 24 from 1:00 -6:00 PM where the LaGrange Masonic Lodge #399 will conduct masonic services at 5:00 PM. Funeral Services will be held on Monday, September 25 at 2:00 PM in the funeral home. Burial will be in Butternut Ridge Cemetery, Eaton Twp. with Grafton VFW Post #3341 providing military honors.

The family suggests that memorials be made to New Life Hospice 5255 N. Abbe Road, Elyria, Ohio 44035. On-line condolences may be left at www.blackburnfuneralhome.com