Thomas Earl Blackburn

Thomas Earl Blackburn, age 89, of Jonesville, NC, passed away December 1 ,
2016 at Kate B. Reynolds Hospice in Winston-Salem, NC.
Earl was born October 19, 1927 at home on Elk Spur Street in Elkin, NC to Talmadge and Sallie (Reece) Blackburn. He was a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, and friend to all.
He attended Jonesville High School where he made the All Star Team in basketball as a starting guard. He also enjoyed baseball, volleyball, bowling, and ping pong. He joined the US Navy in 1945 at the age of 17 and was discharged in 1946. He graduated from Clevenger College, Wilkesboro, NC with a degree in Accounting while also working at Chatham Manufacturing in Elkin, NC. Later, he also owned the “Industrial Office Supply” store on Main Street. Earl retired from Chatham as the head of the Cost Accounting department after 47 years of service and together with two other Chatham retirees, Carrol Singleton and D.R. Gilliam, co-founded Textile Inc. located in Ronda, in December, 1993. The plant produced woven throws and was sold in 1995. It is still in operation as The Northwest Company, LLC. Always active in the community, Earl volunteered for over 15 years with the local Meals on Wheels program. As a member of the Jonesville Pentecostal Holiness Church for over 65 years, he served on both local and conference level church boards, was a Sunday School Superintendent for 25 consecutive years and was appointed to the Armed Forces Board in Oklahoma City and the board of the Falcon Children’s Home in Falcon, NC.Earl is survived by his wife of 65 years, Barbara Kay Isaacs Blackburn, his son Thomas Micah Blackburn (Joyce), his two daughters Pamela Kay Robbins and Jeaneane Michele Wrights, his granddaughter Bridgette Michelle Singleton (Dallas), his three grandsons: Jonathan Micah Blackburn (Kristy), Jer’Mayne Lamont Martin, and John Dylan Wrights, his six great-grandchildren: Lauren Michelle Singleton, Kaitlyn Dallas Singleton, Hannah Elysabeth Miller, Nolan Micah Blackburn, Gabriel Wade Blackburn and Griffin Ryan Blackburn; sisters, Helen Pardue and Edna Kelley, as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 10, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. at Elkin Funeral Service Chapel with Rev. Tim Nelson and Rev. Kenny Gunn officiating. Burial will follow at Sunrise Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 11:00-1:00 p.m. at the funeral home. The family requests memorials be made to Wake Forest Care at Home Hospice of Wilkes, Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home or JPH Church.