Howard Blackwelder

Howard T. Blackwelder, Lieutenant Colonel US Air Force (retired) died on Saturday, December 26, 2009 at the age of 89, and just short of his 90th birthday. Prior to moving to Texas to be with his family, he had been a long time member of Lakewood United Methodist Church, North Hills Country Club and a life member of the Retired Officers Association. He was an avid golfer and loved walking, home repairs and working on his lawn and flower beds and helping others. Colonel Blackwelder was a veteran of WWII, Korean War and the Vietnam era, having flown 41 heavy bomber missions against the Japanese and participated in six battles in the southeastern Pacific theater. He completed many other assignments, including one year in Iceland where he commanded a remote early warning radar site and back in the mainland served seven years in Titan I and Titan II missiles. His last five years of military service were spent at Little Rock Air Force Base as a missile crew commander and later as Deputy Commander for Operations in the 308th Strategic Missile Wing. Colonel Blackwelder retired from the Air Force in 1970. After retiring from the Air Force, he worked as a letter carrier with the U.S. Postal Service until his final retirement in 1985. Colonel Blackwelder was born January 10, 1920 in Hickory, North Carolina to Lindsey Roscoe and Ida Kate (Carter) Blackwelder. He is preceded in death by his parents, brother Paul, sister Helen, his wife of 58 years Sarah and infant son Gary. Survivors include son Ron and wife Kristen of Houston, TX, son Rick and wife Debby of Arlington, TX, brother Clay of Arizona, brother Bob of Indiana, grandchildren Kerri and husband Allen Smith, Amanda and husband Richard Hartman, Andrea Blackwelder, Gary and wife Tricia Blackwelder and Diane and husband Zac Thomson. He was blessed with two great grandsons and in 2010 would have welcomed two more great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the America's Fallen Heroes Fund, financially supporting families of Servicemen and Servicewomen killed in Iraq and Afghanistan: www.americasfallenheroesfund.com/main.html. Private burial will be at the Arkansas Veterans Cemetery with the Rev. Richard Lancaster officiating. Arrangements by North Little Rock Funeral Home, 758-1170. Online obituary and guest register at www.nlrfh.com.

Howard Blackwelder

January 10, 1920 - December 26, 2009