William Glenn Blackburn

William Blackburn, 91, of Malvern, passed away on Wednesday, July 29, 2015 at the Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 1, 2015 at the Loess Hills Funeral Home in Malvern. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service beginning at 9:30 a.m.
Interment will be in the Malvern Cemetery with military honors by Harry Hammonds Post # 520.

Memorials: A memorial fund has been established

William Glenn Blackburn, oldest son of five of William Clifford and Ada Cleo (King) Blackburn was born on November 1, 1923 in Glenwood, IA. He graduated from Thurman High School in the Class of 1942. Following graduation he joined the United State Army Aircorp where he served in Europe during World War II on the crew of a B24 Liberator bomber. His imprisonment in Switzerland after being shot down on a raid over Munich earned him a special Prisoner of War medal which he received in a nationally publicized ceremony at the Pentagon last year.

On November 9, 1947 Bill married Grace Marie Cardwell at the Presbyterian Church in Malvern. The couple was blessed with three sons, William Robert, Michael Keith, and Stephen Glenn. William served as a mechanic for Salyers Auto for a number of years, and later owned and operated a DX fuel service station and a farm and home fuel-delivery service.

Bill was enthusiastic about spending time outdoors in the Loess Hills. He enjoyed turkey hunting and hunting morel mushrooms every spring. He loved his family and took particular joy in providing his grandchildren and great grandchildren with endless fun and adventure.

Bill was a member of the Malvern United Methodist Church, the Malvern Volunteer Fire Department, Harry Hammonds American Legion Post #520, and a founding member of the V.F.W. in Tabor. He was the Mills County Veterans Commissioner for 40 years, and was honored for this service in 2014. For many years he acted as Sergeant at Arms at Malvern's Memorial Day ceremonies. He was also on the Malvern Memorial Community Building Board and the Malvern Village Board.

Bill passed away at the Jennie Edmundson Memorial Hospital in Council Bluffs, on July 29, 2015 at the age of 91 years, 8 months, and 28 days. He was preceded in death by his parents; grandson, Cameron Blackburn; brothers, Max and Richard; and a brother in infancy.

Bill is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Grace, of Malvern; sons, William (Sara) Blackburn of Long Grove, IL, Michael (Angela) Blackburn of Malvern, and Stephen ( Susan) Blackburn of Glenwood; 7 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; brother, Bruce (Janet) Blackburn of Tabor; other relatives and a host of very special friends.