Joseph, Oregon
Dr. Robert N. Blackburn, who practiced medicine in Wallowa County for many years, died in Oklahoma on July 27, 2006. A full obituary will be published at a later date.
Wallowa County Chieftain, August 24, 2006
Dr. Robert Blackburn
Dr. Robert Neil Blackburn, of Cushing, Okla., died there July 27, 2006. He was 77.
Mr. Blackburn was born at home Aug. 1, 1929, in Cushing, Okla. Mr. Blackburn was a jet fighter pilot in the Korean War. He was an instrument pilot. He returned to Texas to teach other pilots how to fly by instrument. The other pilots often exceeded him in rank.
At age 26 his buddies ribbed the jet pilot that he needed to learn to drive, so he did. After his time in the service, he attended medical school at the University of Oklahoma.
He served his residency at Deaconess Hospital in Spokane, Wash. and discovered Wallowa County. He bought Dr. Coffman’s medical practice in Joseph and practiced there for nearly 25 years, before retiring to Oklahoma.
He delivered many of the babies in Wallowa County, and some of their babies. Known by his patients as “Dr. B”, his civic involvement included volunteering as a physician at every Chief Joseph Days Rodeo. He was selected as a grand marshal of a Chief Joseph Days parade in 1979.
He also started Joseph Little League baseball and the Blackburn Field in Joseph . Later he opened a practice in Asotin, Wash. for five years, then returned to Cushing, Okla.
He is survived by five sisters in Oklahoma. He was preceded in death by four brothers.
He was cremated and no services have been scheduled.
Wallowa County Chieftain, Obituaries – August 31, 2007 and September 7, 2006
Dr. Robert Neil Blackburn
Dr. Robert Neil Blackburn, 77, of Cushing, Okla., and formerly of Joseph died July 27.
Dr. Blackburn was born Aug. 1, 1929, in Cushing, Okla. He served as a jet fighter pilot in the Korean War and taught other pilots how to fly by instrument. After leaving the military, he graduated from medical school at the University of Oklahoma, and served his residency at Deaconess Hospital in Spokane.
He bought Dr. Coffman’s practice in Joseph and practiced there for nearly 25 years. He delivered many of the babies in Wallowa County for two generations. He worked in Asotin, Wash., for five years before retiring to Oklahoma.
He volunteered his services at every Chief Joseph Days Rodeo, and was grand marshal of the Chief Joseph Days parade. He also started Joseph Little League Baseball.
Survivors include five sisters, all in Oklahoma. Four brothers died earlier.
The Observer Online, Obituaries for the week ending Sept. 2, 2006, Published: September 5, 2006