Obituary for David Lee Blackburn
David Lee Blackburn, 78, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, died April 10, 2021, at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital in Rockville, Md.
Born February 17, 1943, in Steubenville, Ohio, David was the son of Marjorie (Donaldson) Blackburn and Joseph W. Blackburn. He attended school in Wintersville, Ohio, graduated from Ohio University and received a Master’s Degree in Physics from Case Western Reserve University.
He and his high school sweetheart, Carol, moved to Maryland in 1968 and he began a 37-year career at the National Bureau of Standards, now the National Institute of Standards and Technology, in Gaithersburg.
In 1976, he and colleagues Sherwin Rubin and Frank Oettinger received the Department of Commerce’s second highest award, the Silver Medal, for their work in developing improved measurement tools to prevent the overheating of semiconductor devices.
David was a Life Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and received several awards from the Semiconductor Research Corporation, including the Significant Contributor Award in 2007.
He taught engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park, for several semesters.
He enjoyed playing soccer in the Over 35 League and coached and refereed youth soccer.
Over the years David traveled extensively, mostly with Carol, and had visited 49 countries and all 50 states.
David Blackburn is survived by his wife of 56 years, Carol (Marsh), daughter April, son John, grandsons Austin and Carson and their mother Kim, nephews Matthew and Jason, and great niece Jacquie Frazier.
He will be greatly missed by his family and his many friends and former co-workers.
He was predeceased by his parents and his brother Gerald Blackburn.
A Celebration of His Life will be held at a later date.
Contributions in David’s name may be made to Rainbow Therapeutic Riding Center, 16198 Silver Lake Rd, Haymarket, VA 20169. www.rainbowriding.org. Please put David or Carson in a memo. Arrangements by Burrier-Queen Funeral Home and Crematory. www.burrier-queen.com
Born February 17, 1943, in Steubenville, Ohio, David was the son of Marjorie (Donaldson) Blackburn and Joseph W. Blackburn. He attended school in Wintersville, Ohio, graduated from Ohio University and received a Master’s Degree in Physics from Case Western Reserve University.
He and his high school sweetheart, Carol, moved to Maryland in 1968 and he began a 37-year career at the National Bureau of Standards, now the National Institute of Standards and Technology, in Gaithersburg.
In 1976, he and colleagues Sherwin Rubin and Frank Oettinger received the Department of Commerce’s second highest award, the Silver Medal, for their work in developing improved measurement tools to prevent the overheating of semiconductor devices.
David was a Life Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and received several awards from the Semiconductor Research Corporation, including the Significant Contributor Award in 2007.
He taught engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park, for several semesters.
He enjoyed playing soccer in the Over 35 League and coached and refereed youth soccer.
Over the years David traveled extensively, mostly with Carol, and had visited 49 countries and all 50 states.
David Blackburn is survived by his wife of 56 years, Carol (Marsh), daughter April, son John, grandsons Austin and Carson and their mother Kim, nephews Matthew and Jason, and great niece Jacquie Frazier.
He will be greatly missed by his family and his many friends and former co-workers.
He was predeceased by his parents and his brother Gerald Blackburn.
A Celebration of His Life will be held at a later date.
Contributions in David’s name may be made to Rainbow Therapeutic Riding Center, 16198 Silver Lake Rd, Haymarket, VA 20169. www.rainbowriding.org. Please put David or Carson in a memo. Arrangements by Burrier-Queen Funeral Home and Crematory. www.burrier-queen.com