Robert H. Blackburn

Mr. Robert H. "Bob" Blackburn, III, 66 of Lillian Sims Dr. died Wednesday, October 26 at Trinity Hospital in Augusta after a sudden illness. A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 29 at 11 a.m. at Lincolnton United Methodist Church with Rev. Dave Hinson and Rev. Ficklen Guin officiating. Visitation will immediately follow the service. Mr. Blackburn, son of the late Robert H. and Nell McCown Blackburn, was born in Las Vegas, New Mexico while his father, a retired Colonel in the US Army was stationed there. He lived all over the United States and in Tawain and Germany during his father's service. He graduated from Dover High School in Dover, NJ. He gradutated from his beloved University of Alabama in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce and Business Administration. He was a member of the Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity. After graduating from Alabama he moved to Linconlton and began a 30-year career with the Lincoln County Board of Education. He earned a Masters of Education from the University of Georgia in 1979. During his career teaching history at Lincoln County Middle School, he was instrumental in developing the Midget Mite football program which he coached for 20 years. He was honored as STAR teacher in 1994. He is remembered for his ability to make learning fun and truly caring about his students. Anyone who met Bob was drawn to his bigger-than-life personality. He loved making people laugh and made sure they knew how special they were to him. Bringing happiness to someone else was when he was the happiest. He also took tremendous pride in keeping a manicured yard. He was a self-taught guitar player, and a diehard University of Alabama football fan, but his best moments were spent riding motorcycles with his wife, Alice and dear friends. Along with his wife and daughter, Alyson, his biggest source of price were his young grandchildren. From singing them lullabies to yearning for their successful futures, he was proudest when he heard a little voice call him Granddaddy. He is survived by his wife, Alice Blackburn; daughter, Alyson Blackburn Abercrombie and husband Alan of Powder Springs; brother, Preston Blackburn and wife Jane of Lake Ridge, VA; grandchildren, Cole Robert Abercrombie and Bryce Alan Abercrombie of Powder Springs; nieces and newphew, Jennifer Blackburn Coogen, Carrie Blackburn Sellers and Brian Robert Blackburn of Arlington, VA; and step-children, Steve Fowler, of North Augusta, SC, Chuck Fowler of Aiken, SC, Dean Fowler of Graniteville, SC and Jean Fowler Beach and husband Ladson of Orangeburg, SC.