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Mr. Bobby Ray Blackwood, 82, of Junction Road, Cooleemee, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023 after several months of declining health.

Bob was born on June 7, 1940, in Cooleemee, the only child to David Ray Blackwood and Ruby Sedberry Blackwood.

Bob grew up in Cooleemee attending Cooleemee Elementary and then Davie High School. In 1959, he joined the United States Air Force and was stationed in San Antonio, Texas where he and his wife, Loraine McDaniel Blackwood, started their family of what would be three children, Lisa Rae Blackwood, David Kenneth Blackwood, and Lorri Dawn Blackwood. Upon discharge from the military, Bob returned with his family to Cooleemee where he worked various odd jobs eventually landing with Ingersoll Rand Corporation, where he worked for 32 years. Bob earned his way into a sales position at Ingersoll Rand which allowed him to travel throughout the United States and Europe. He loved his career in sales, mostly because of the many friends he made with his work colleagues, his customers, and other industry folks. Bob loved to laugh and have a good time. His greatest treasures in life were his family, whom he dearly loved, his career and work associates, his land on Junction Road, his friends at the American Legion, as well as the people and town of Cooleemee. In his earlier years, Bob also loved to fish and hunt, play sports, spend time with family and friends at the beach, and was an avid lover of animals, especially his Boston Terriers. Bob was also proud of his service to his country through the U.S. Air force and was a 50-year member of the Post 54 American Legion in Cooleemee, where he served as post commander for many years.

Bob was preceded in death by: his mother and father; his daughter, Lorri; and his son-in-law, Harry Salvaggio.

He is survived by: his wife, Loraine McDaniel Blackwood; his children, Lisa Blackwood Salvaggio of Lake Wiley and David Blackwood of Southport; as well as his grandchildren, Tara Potts Kleaveland and her husband Justin Kleaveland of Cooleemee, David Brett Blackwood of Advance, and Briana Blackwood Beasley and her husband Josh Beasley of Mount Airy.

A memorial graveside service will be conducted at 2 p.m., Wednesday, March 8 at Salisbury National Cemetery. Military funeral honors will be conducted by the U.S. Air Force and the VFW Memorial Honor Guard. The family will receive family and friends at the home following the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Bob’s memory to the Humane Society of Davie County, P.O. Box  937, Mocksville, NC 27028.

Condolences: www.eatonfuneralservice.com