Dr. L .W. “Red” Blackmon, 87, retired physician, passed away
November 24, 2009. He was born September 14, 1922, in Lancaster, S.C.,
to Benjamin Tillman Blackmon and Lulu Blanche Belk Blackmon.
Dr. Blackmon graduated from Columbia High School and the University of
South Carolina. A veteran of WWII, he served as a paratrooper in the
508th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division from
1942-46 with action in the Battle of the Bulge. He graduated from the
University of S.C. Medical School and practiced medicine in Enoree,
S.C., before deciding to specialize. He graduated Tulane University in
1958 and returned to Columbia where he served his patients as an
ophthalmologist from 1958 until his retirement in 1982.
Red enjoyed golf, hunting, farming and his U.S.C. Gamecocks. He loved
his family and all “little people” (children).
Red was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Grover Beven
Blackmon, three sisters, Elise Jeanette Blackmon Kneece, Margaret
Frances Blackmon Blanks, Guyoma Floreed Blackmon McGuinn and a son,
Donald Gibbons Blackmon.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Kathryn Gibbons
Blackmon; son, John Belk Blackmon of Columbia; daughter, Rebecca
Blackmon Groom of Andover, Kansas, nine grandchildren and one
great-grandchild.
Funeral service will be 3 p.m. Sunday, November 29, 2009, at Trenholm
Road U.M.C. with burial in the church cemetery. Family will receive
friends following the service. Dunbar
Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Epworth Children’s Home,
P.O. Box 50466, Columbia, SC 29250. |
[courtesy of Lawrence Ulmer]
Grave marker for Dr. Lyndell .W. “Red” Blackmon, in
Trenholm Road United Methodist Church Cemetery, Columbia (Richland
county), South Carolina./
In September 1943, Lyndell was a Freshman at the
University of South Carolina when he pledged to Phi Kappa Sigma
fraternity,
But Uncle Sam called him to duty and after completing
his first year of college, Lyndell enlisted in the Army at Fort Jackson,
Columbia, SC on 9 July 1943.
In early November Pvt Blackmon was one of many men
that had been received by Service Co, 508th PIR. On 22
November he was transferred to Hq 3rd.
Lyndell received the Combat Infantryman Badge for
action during the campaign, 18 Dec 1944 to 20 Feb 1945
Following his discharge Lyndell picked up his
education again at USC.. In September 1946, he entered medical
school at USC.
While still a student he became engaged to Johnnie
Kathryn Gibbons of New Zion, SC. They were married on 30 June
1948.
He graduated from medical school on 16 June1950 |
