David Blackbird

David Blackbird, one of the founding members of Humanists of Utah, died July 03, 2009 at the Utah State Veterans Nursing Home of causes incident to age. He had been in a nursing home since September 2007.He was born January 5, 1930, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Mark and Mary Lois Brown Blackbird. He spent his early years in various Texas and Oklahoma locations. His father died when he was 10 and the family moved to Dallas, Texas, where he attended Sunset High School. He got his BA from Texas Tech in Lubbock. He met his second wife Leona in Salt Lake City, where they were married in 1990.

David spent 30 years in the US Air Force, retiring in 1981 with the rank of Colonel. He served in Korea, and then spent eight years based in Arkansas flying refueling tankers. The Air Force then sent him to the University of Pittsburgh to get a Master's degree in International Relations and Public Affairs and he became involved with Military Intelligence. He served two tours of duty in the Pentagon and also spent time in Vietnam and Germany. He finished his Air Force career at NORAD in Colorado Springs.

He spent his retirement happily volunteering. He was a political animal and worked tirelessly for various local Democratic candidates. He was a lifelong member of the Unitarian Universalist Church. He was also a member of the League of Women Voters, the NAACP. He loved his family, news, politics and history. He was a Life Master Bridge player. He was interested in all people. He is survived by his brother Richard (Shally) of Ft. Worth; his wife Leona Blackbird of Salt Lake City; four children - Franc (Ken Bowers) of Sacramento; Sam of Tyler, Texas; Joe of Lawrence, Kansas; and Martha of Dallas, Texas; - and two grandchildren. The family wishes to thank Bristol Hospice and the staff at the USVNH, especially Linda Killian.

There will be a memorial service for Dave on Sunday, August 16 at 2:00 PM at the First Unitarian Church.

--Leona Blackbird

David's feature in our "Spotlight" series