Charles R. Blackburn

ALBANY – Charles R. Blackburn, age 84, Albany, died Tuesday afternoon at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital following an extended illness.  Born Sept. 18, 1932 in Coffee County, TN, he served in the Tennessee National Guard and later moved to Albany in 1950.  He started Blackburn’s Body Shop and did auto body work for several years, retiring in 1997.  He also worked for Fisher Body, Chevrolet, and GMC Truck Sales.  Charlie was an active member of The Family Worship Center in Portland and was a family-centered man who was always helping others.  He enjoyed NASCAR, the Colts, Peyton Manning, working outdoors, and helping his son Steve at the body shop.

Survivors include his wife: Sherry Blackburn; two sons: Steve Blackburn (wife: Deb), Albany, and Randy Blackburn (wife: Dusty), Columbus, IN; three daughters: Melody Bisel (friend: Mike), Portland, Charla Schwartz (husband: David), Muncie, and Julie Stockton (husband: Jason), New Albany; four brothers: Roy Blackburn, Fairview, Jesse Blackburn (wife: Carolyn), Kokomo, David Blackburn (wife: Elaine), Kokomo, and Joe Blackburn (wife: Sudy), Kokomo; a sister: Dorothy Dickerson, Tullahoma, TN; 15 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great-grandchildren, and several nieces & nephews.

He is preceded in death by his former spouse, Betty Blackburn, in 1976; parents: Robert & Bertha (Brown) Blackburn, two brothers: Alfred & Ross Blackburn, and two sisters: Mildred Anderson and infant Brenda Faye Blackburn.

Services will be 1 p.m. Friday, June 23, 2017 at The Family Worship Center, Portland.  Burial will follow at Gardens of Memory Cemetery.

Visiting hours will be held Thursday from 4 until 8 p.m. at The Family Worship Center and one hour prior to the service on Friday.

Memorials may be sent to The Family Worship Center, 200 E. Elder St., Portland, IN 47371. 

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