- Date Of Birth: April 11, 1925
- Date Of Death: March 17, 2020
- State: Florida
Lillian “Lorraine” Blackburn passed away peacefully in her home on March 17, 2020 just shy of 95 years old.
Lorraine was predeceased by her two sisters Rose Martin and Ruth O’Connell and her two brothers Don Palik and John Palik. She was born April 11, 1925 in Prescott, Iowa To Barbara and Arthur Palik and raised in Denver, Colorado where she met and married her love of nearly 77 years, Denny R. Blackburn on June 29, 1943. Their love story is legendary. She was only 16 when Denny was in Denver as a dashing young enlistee.
Faith and family were central to Lorraine who prayed often for all of the family. She would tell you that it was through her prayers that Denny returned safely home to her, after almost two years of fighting. Their war-time marriage was only a few months in when he had to leave for combat duties over France and Germany.
After the war it was hard for anyone to find a job, but Lorraine stuck by Denny as they struggled to make ends meet. Among other hardships they lived on Denny’s brother’s “resort in the making” in little more than a lean-to and tent with two young boys. Lorraine also suffered two miscarriages and years later they lost their eldest son in Vietnam. Her secrets of a long happy marriage can be viewed in this interview she participated in at this website . Lorraine always said marriage was work and staying in love in hard times was a choice. “We hardly ever pass each other without a hug, a kiss, or a pat. You’ve got to keep it going.
There is a beauty to that evening glass of wine when the day’s work is done that is mirrored in a life so well-lived as hers. She looked over the finished tasks of loving her family and community well. She had five children: David Ray Blackburn, a helicopter pilot who was killed in Vietnam, Michael Reid Blackburn (Edith), of San Diego, CA, Cora Christine Girard (Greg), of Nokesville, VA, Jennifer Ruth Bowman (Doug) of Black Mountain, NC, and Daniel Quintin Blackburn (Janice) formerly of Hampton, VA now living in Cocoa Beach, FL. Her twenty grandchildren are Stdrovia, Sumire, Sacha, Lindy, Bonnie, Lillian, John, Eric, Andrew, Krista, Kaylea, Keri, Kassidy, Raya, Kevin, Lorraine, Jeremy, Andi, Suzanna, and Dani. She also has thirty-one great grandchildren, Sade, Talon, Kellen, Ashle, Haven, Nikki, Natalie, Ethan, Christian, Lauryn, Aubrey, Liam, Sean, Ryleigh, Joshua, Ellis, Jeremiah, Lauren, Jaedon, Gabriel, Kimber Tyler, Raedyn, Tristan, Scarlet, Sophia, Vivienne, Beaux, Benjamin, Colbie, Oakley, and one great grandchild due this summer.
Lorraine was a bundle of energy most of her life even if she had to take an afternoon nap to recharge her battery. But these last few years, she found her body unable to keep up with her ambition. She became injured from falls sustaining a broken nose, kneecaps, and femur. Even those could not keep her down. She would heal and rebuild her strength and begrudgingly use the walker as she was encouraged to do, to get around. She was always cheerful and singing. In the mornings she would often start her day singing, “Oh what a beautiful morning. Oh what a beautiful day. I’ve got a wonderful feeling… everything’s going my way!” In those final days life became like riding a bike into the wind; every pump of the pedals an effort. I almost think I could hear her singing to Jesus, “Come get me! Come get me! I’m through!” She had squeezed out every bit of life that she could and went home satisfied and happy having left behind a beautiful legacy.
