David Blackburn

VIENNA, Mo. -- David W. Blackburn, 53, a resident of Vienna and a native of Sikeston, Mo., passed away Friday, Dec. 7, 2012, at the Cancer Treatment Center of America in Zion, Ill.

David was born Jan. 12, 1959, in Sikeston, Mo. He was the son of William Robert Blackburn and Doris Virginia Redden Blackburn. David was united in marriage to Angela Marie Persinger Large on July 31, 2010, at the First Baptist Church in Vienna. She survives.

Other survivors include a son, William Robert Blackburn II of Vienna; a stepson, Benjamin Joseph Large of Vienna; a sister, Joy Blackburn of St. Croix, the U.S. Virgin Islands; aunts; uncles; cousins; nieces; nephews; other relatives; and many dear friends.

David was preceded in death by his parents.

David was a 1977 graduate of Sikeston High School and earned a bachelor's degree from Mid-America Nazarene College in Olathe, Kan.

David was a nationally registered emergency medical technician/paramedic for more than 25 years. He had taught paramedic refresher courses through the Cape Girardeau Career & Technology Center, and more recently had been employed as a paramedic by Medforce E.M.S. in Eldorado, Ill.

David was a vibrant individual and loved life. He had formerly been a member of and served as an Elder in the Nazarene Church. Since moving to Johnson County, David had been a member of the First Baptist Church in Vienna. David loved music and singing, was an excellent cook and a voracious reader.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Bailey Funeral Home in Vienna and from 10 a.m. to time of service Wednesday at First Baptist Church in Vienna.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Dr. Ed Hollis will officiate.

Memorials may be made to the Ronald McDonald House Charities, 1 Kroc Drive, Oak Brook, IL 60523 (www.rmhc.org) or to the Heather Harper Treat Memorial Cancer Fund, P.O. Box 98, Vienna, IL 62995.

To share a memory of David or to leave an online message of condolence for his family, please visit www.baileyfh.com.