Joseph, Oregon
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