James H. Blackburn, 71, of Herman Road died Friday at Butler Memorial Hospital.

Born Aug. 30, 1936, in Allison Park, he was the son of Henry G. and Alice A. Deere Blackburn.

He was a self-employed upholsterer at Ambassador House Upholstery.

Mr. Blackburn was a volunteer for the Butler Veterans Affairs Medical Center. He was a member of the American Legion in Worthington and the Harlendale Masonic Lodge in San Antonio, Texas. He enjoyed NASCAR, Lernerville Speedway, woodworking, traveling, gardening and telling corny jokes.

He was a veteran of the Air Force and served during peacetime in the United States, England, Germany, Finland and Crete.

Surviving are his wife, Marjorie D. Blackburn from Luton Bedfordshire England, whom he met while stationed at Chicksands Air Force Base and married April 26, 1958; a son, Keith R. Blackburn and his wife, Lisa, of Butler; a daughter, Karina L. Minteer and her husband, Gary, of Mesa, Ariz.; two granddaughters, Jocelyn R. Blackburn of Valencia and Kendall T. Minteer of Mesa; a grandson, Colin J. Blackburn of Butler; a brother, Timothy Blackburn and his wife, Andrea, of Valencia; a sister, Patricia Porter and her husband, Kenneth, of Valencia; his stepmother, Ruth Large; a number of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; and a great-great nephew.

He was preceded in death by a grandson and a brother-in-law.

<B>BLACKBURN</B>— James H. Blackburn, who died Friday, March 21, 2008, donated his body for research, education and for scientific purposes. There will be no visitation. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Trinity Lutheran Church with the Rev. Peter Nordby officiating.Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, Memorials, 320 Bilmar Drive, Pittsburgh, PA15205.Information and a private guest book are available at www.thompson-miller.com.