Paul Leon Blackwell

P. Leon Blackwell, age 59, of 706 Martin Lake Rd. and widower of Betty Blackwell died Thursday, June 28, 2007 in the Greenville Memorial Hospital after a brief illness.
He was born in Polk County, NC and was a son of the late Paul and Betty Jo Atkins Blackwell.
Mr. Blackwell was an employee of the J.Herman Powers Company, a memeber of the V.F.W. and was a Baptist by faith.
He was a decorated U.S. Army veteran of Vietnam from 1968 to 1969 and was in the 101 Airborne Division and was a survivor of Hamburger Hill.
He is survived by a long time companion, Dianne Goode of the home; one son, Bryan Paul Blackwell of Inman; 6 step grandchildren, Lee Smith of Lyman Lake, Jessica Goode of the home, Gentry Goode of Lyman Lake, Steve Coleman of Simpsonville, Tammy Wright and Lance Coleman both of Fountain Inn and 6 step great grandchildren; two brothers, William (Bill) Blackwell of Fountain Inn and Steve Blackwell of Pelzer; two sisters, Ann Gill of Spartanburg and Charlotte LaFoy of Mauldin.
Graveside services will be conducted Saturday at 11:00 a.m. in the Forest Lawn Cemetery with full military honors.
The family will receive friends Friday from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Gray Funeral Home in Laurens.