When Gerald Raymond Blackburn was born on June 7, 1911, in Detroit, Michigan, his father, GeorgeLouis John Payne Blackburn (1868-1954), was 41 and his mother, CoraCora Eliza (Bucher) Blackburn (1886-1962), was 25.
Gerald had a twin brother George and they were very close brothers. His parents separated and divorced around 1932. Thus leaving Cora and the boys to fend for themselves. Gerald went to work at the age of 15 as a mail clerk in an office in Detroit to bring home money to help her out. While Gerald was working as a young man he managed to get a college degree at night and worked during the day. That took him 8 years! He married Lillian Gould EllisLillian Gould (Ellis) Blackburn (1914-1989) on January 4, 1936. They had two children during their marriage, Anne (Blackburn) Buck and Jan Janice (Blackburn) Sawitoski.
That job as a mail clerk lead to a life long job with General Motors Truck and Bus for 50+ years. Gerald had a position as Zone manager for GM until his retirement in 1969, traveling much of the time as well. When he finally retired he was happy to putz around the house and play golf and visit his family!
As a routine for Gerald on the week ends he would go for his weekly hair cut at the Barber Shop in Wheaton,(I went with him, had to get my pack of Chum Gum), then off to Glen Ellyn to pickup Mom's meat order at the butcher shop. That is where I was so lucky to get a fresh dill pickle out of the pickle barrel! That was a very special time we had on the week ends together! Often times I would go to his office after our chores were complete and spend part of the day at his office.
Gerald celebrated his 76 birthday on June 7, 1987 as his Grandson Michael graduated from High School. Unfortunately he died on August 12, 1987, in Clearwater, Florida, at the age of 76, and was buried there at Sylvan Abbey Cemetery.
George, f-a-gr # 76816146, who died in 1943.
Gerald had a twin brother George and they were very close brothers. His parents separated and divorced around 1932. Thus leaving Cora and the boys to fend for themselves. Gerald went to work at the age of 15 as a mail clerk in an office in Detroit to bring home money to help her out. While Gerald was working as a young man he managed to get a college degree at night and worked during the day. That took him 8 years! He married Lillian Gould EllisLillian Gould (Ellis) Blackburn (1914-1989) on January 4, 1936. They had two children during their marriage, Anne (Blackburn) Buck and Jan Janice (Blackburn) Sawitoski.
That job as a mail clerk lead to a life long job with General Motors Truck and Bus for 50+ years. Gerald had a position as Zone manager for GM until his retirement in 1969, traveling much of the time as well. When he finally retired he was happy to putz around the house and play golf and visit his family!
As a routine for Gerald on the week ends he would go for his weekly hair cut at the Barber Shop in Wheaton,(I went with him, had to get my pack of Chum Gum), then off to Glen Ellyn to pickup Mom's meat order at the butcher shop. That is where I was so lucky to get a fresh dill pickle out of the pickle barrel! That was a very special time we had on the week ends together! Often times I would go to his office after our chores were complete and spend part of the day at his office.
Gerald celebrated his 76 birthday on June 7, 1987 as his Grandson Michael graduated from High School. Unfortunately he died on August 12, 1987, in Clearwater, Florida, at the age of 76, and was buried there at Sylvan Abbey Cemetery.
George, f-a-gr # 76816146, who died in 1943.
When Gerald Raymond Blackburn was born on June 7, 1911, in Detroit, Michigan, his father, GeorgeLouis John Payne Blackburn (1868-1954), was 41 and his mother, CoraCora Eliza (Bucher) Blackburn (1886-1962), was 25.
Gerald had a twin brother George and they were very close brothers. His parents separated and divorced around 1932. Thus leaving Cora and the boys to fend for themselves. Gerald went to work at the age of 15 as a mail clerk in an office in Detroit to bring home money to help her out. While Gerald was working as a young man he managed to get a college degree at night and worked during the day. That took him 8 years! He married Lillian Gould EllisLillian Gould (Ellis) Blackburn (1914-1989) on January 4, 1936. They had two children during their marriage, Anne (Blackburn) Buck and Jan Janice (Blackburn) Sawitoski.
That job as a mail clerk lead to a life long job with General Motors Truck and Bus for 50+ years. Gerald had a position as Zone manager for GM until his retirement in 1969, traveling much of the time as well. When he finally retired he was happy to putz around the house and play golf and visit his family!
As a routine for Gerald on the week ends he would go for his weekly hair cut at the Barber Shop in Wheaton,(I went with him, had to get my pack of Chum Gum), then off to Glen Ellyn to pickup Mom's meat order at the butcher shop. That is where I was so lucky to get a fresh dill pickle out of the pickle barrel! That was a very special time we had on the week ends together! Often times I would go to his office after our chores were complete and spend part of the day at his office.
Gerald celebrated his 76 birthday on June 7, 1987 as his Grandson Michael graduated from High School. Unfortunately he died on August 12, 1987, in Clearwater, Florida, at the age of 76, and was buried there at Sylvan Abbey Cemetery.
George, f-a-gr # 76816146, who died in 1943.
Gerald had a twin brother George and they were very close brothers. His parents separated and divorced around 1932. Thus leaving Cora and the boys to fend for themselves. Gerald went to work at the age of 15 as a mail clerk in an office in Detroit to bring home money to help her out. While Gerald was working as a young man he managed to get a college degree at night and worked during the day. That took him 8 years! He married Lillian Gould EllisLillian Gould (Ellis) Blackburn (1914-1989) on January 4, 1936. They had two children during their marriage, Anne (Blackburn) Buck and Jan Janice (Blackburn) Sawitoski.
That job as a mail clerk lead to a life long job with General Motors Truck and Bus for 50+ years. Gerald had a position as Zone manager for GM until his retirement in 1969, traveling much of the time as well. When he finally retired he was happy to putz around the house and play golf and visit his family!
As a routine for Gerald on the week ends he would go for his weekly hair cut at the Barber Shop in Wheaton,(I went with him, had to get my pack of Chum Gum), then off to Glen Ellyn to pickup Mom's meat order at the butcher shop. That is where I was so lucky to get a fresh dill pickle out of the pickle barrel! That was a very special time we had on the week ends together! Often times I would go to his office after our chores were complete and spend part of the day at his office.
Gerald celebrated his 76 birthday on June 7, 1987 as his Grandson Michael graduated from High School. Unfortunately he died on August 12, 1987, in Clearwater, Florida, at the age of 76, and was buried there at Sylvan Abbey Cemetery.
George, f-a-gr # 76816146, who died in 1943.
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