Baxter O. Blackburn

September 15, 2014

Baxter O. Blackburn, age 90 of Iron Bridge Rd in Columbia, passed away Monday, September 15, 2014 at his residence. Funeral services will be conducted Friday, September 19, 2014 at 2:00 PM from the chapel of Heritage Funeral Home, officiated by Rev. Hubert Cunningham and Keith Baker. Burial will follow in the Goshen Cemetery with military honors provided by the American Legion Post 19 and the Vietnam Veterans USA Honor Guard. The family will receive friends for visitation on Thursday, September 18 from 4:00 until 8:00 PM at the funeral home. Heritage Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Baxter, a WWII soldier, was a proud member of Company B 379th Infantry Division, fighting in France and Germany. The 95th Division took the city of Metz, France in November 1944 with a lot of help from the 5th Infantry and 90th Infantry Divisions. Metz was thought to be the strongest city in the world to take as it had not been taken by force in nineteen-hundred years. The Germans gave the 95th Division the title of "Iron Men of Metz." PFC Baxter's duty in combat was first Scout leading his company and once first battalion of the 379th Infantry regiment. After days and nights of enduring cold rain, snow and mud, Baxter was wounded by a German bullet while assaulting a railroad yard at Faulautern, Germany on December 9, 1944 that ended his combat. Thirteen months later Baxter received his honorable discharge at Lawson US Army hospital on January 25, 1946 in Atlanta, GA. In recognition of his service, Baxter was awarded the Purple Heart, 2 Bronze Battle Stars and his Combat Infantry Badge. In November 1946 he started the Blackburn Plumbing Company, which is still owned by his sons and grandsons. Baxter was a plumber and farmer on Iron Bridge Road for many years. He was a graduate of GI Farm Training. Baxter always realized that farming was an expensive hobby, but he loved it anyway. He was born April 23, 1924 in Santa Fe, TN in the Goshen Community. Baxter was a member of Goshen and St. Luke United Methodist Churches for many years. At St. Luke he will be remembered as the secret Candy Man for the Children's Sermon. He was a life member of five military organizations including Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 1928, American Legion Post 19, VFW Post 4969, 95th Infantry Division Association and Disabled American Veterans Chapter 22. He was elected State Commander of the TN Disabled American Veterans in 1977 and 1978. Baxter authored a few books with his favorite one being a story called A Simple Soldier, which is a true story of his experiences. Of various awards, metals and certificates, there were none more highly treasured by Baxter than the honorary membership of the Vietnam Veterans Chapter 128. He held this honorary membership with deep pride, in admiration for the soldiers who served, sacrificed and died in that war. In addition to his parents: Birton D. Blackburn and Kittie Lee Page Blackburn; Baxter was preceded in death by three sisters: Ruth Vaughn, Shannon Gray and Katherine Dean Blackburn; and a grand-daughter: Angela Diann "Angie" Wells. He is survived by five children: Connie Blackburn Baker, Randy (Brenda) Blackburn, Cathy (Mark) Perryman, Barry Blackburn (DeeDee Hay) and Rhonda (Bill) Krambs, all of Columbia; the mother of his children, and lifelong friend: Elizabeth Blackburn Bishop of Columbia; a brother: Don (Polly) Blackburn of Oak Ridge, TN; sister: Dorothy "Dot" (George) Horne of Columbia; 9 grandchildren: Benjy Dewayne (Rose Marie) Mathews, Tammy (Russ) Richardson, Emmarynthe Page Blackburn, Sam Gray, Heather Gray, Cody Blackburn, Courtney (Ray) Jeter, Heather Blackburn, and Crystal Blackburn who served as his caregiver in recent time; 14 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Pallbearers will be: Jeremy Davaloz, Ray Jeter, Sam Gray, Jeremy Batts, Clark Simmons, Matt David, George Copley and Jerry Smith. Honorary pallbearers will be Jimmy Holderfield, Joshua Anthony Diaz, Ryan Malone, Eloy Zapata, Aaron Davaloz, Ben Harness, Shane Maxwell, Haley Herbert, Jeremy Delk, and his plumbing customers.