SIKESTON - Bertis Donald Blackburn, 71, died at 11:35 p.m. Oct. 7, 2007, at his home.
Born June 2, 1936, at St. Charles, to the late Bertis DeRandolph and Cynthia Louise Scott Blackburn, he was a computer technician and owner/operator of Blackburn Vacuum Cleaner Sales and Service and was a member of First Assembly of God Church. He was a technical sergeant with the U.S. Air Force, serving during the Vietnam War, and retired in December 1976 after 20 years of service. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star.
On April 28, 1967, in Cairo, Ill., he married Marsha Kay Evans who survives of the home.
Other survivors include: one son and daughter-in-law, Ronald Wayne and Lisa Blackburn of Sikeston; and three grandchildren, Micah Blackburn, Holly Blackburn and Ian Blackburn of Sikeston.
Visitation is scheduled from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday at the Blanchard Funeral Chapel. where services will be conducted at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. The Rev. Ron Tate, pastor of First Assembly of God Church, will officiate.
Burial with full military honors provided by the Missouri Military Honors Program will follow at 1 p.m. in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery at Bloomfield.