Thair Blackburn

Thair Henry Blackburn

January 10, 1929 ~ March 6. 2016

Thair Henry Blackburn, 87, of South Ogden passed away March 6, 2016. He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years,  Joanne Taylor Blackburn, his siblings; Doug, Fife, Bernita, Carma and Darlene. He is survived by his three sons Andy Blackburn of North Ogden, Dr. Jeff Blackburn of Midlothian, VA, Rich Blackburn of Washington Terrace, 12 grandchildren, one great-grandchild and his brother, Dale.

He was born on January 10, 1929 to Oriel Henry Blackburn and Bertha Fife Blackburn in Ogden. He graduated from Ogden High School in 1946. He enlisted and served our country in the Armed Forces as a member of the Army from 1946 to 1948. He was stationed in Japan. Upon returning, he attended Weber State College and married the love of his life, Joanne Taylor. They were married June 24, 1949 in the Salt Lake Temple. They moved to Colorado where he earned his degree in architecture and engineering from the University of Colorado. They returned to Utah where he was employed with the firm of Grix, Plowgain and Blackburn until he started his own architectural firm with offices in Ogden and San Francisco.

He practiced architecture full time until the age of 85. He designed many commercial and residential buildings throughout the Western United States. Locally he designed the Cinedome Theaters, the Weber State College Football Stadium and the Swenson Basketball Gymnasium at Weber State College as well as many Lindquist mortuaries. A famous Utah building he designed was the visitors center at Flaming Gorge Dam in which he applied the principles of organic architecture made famous by his idol, Frank Lloyd Wright.

Throughout his life he was very active athletically. He played basketball for Weber Junior College when they went to the Junior College Final Four two years in a row. He played basketball and volleyball for years but was best known for being one of the best fast-pitch softball pitchers in the state. He served the community in many ways. He was a member of the South Ogden City Council for two terms and a board member of the Weber Alumni Association.  For years he gave his time and energy to the youth of South Ogden by coaching multiple baseball and basketball teams.

Although he is no longer with us physically, his legacy will live on through the lives he has touched and influenced as well as the many buildings he designed. We celebrate his life by remembering a man of honesty, principles, integrity, a loving father, grandfather and husband. He was a kind, generous, industrious and thoughtful man. He found the good in others, searched for the truth in everything, loved and appreciated the beauty of life, humor and family. He will always be remembered for his  uncompromising optimism.

The family would like thank the staff of Lotus Park Assisted Living and George Wahlen Veterans Facility for their care and support giving to their father.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 12, 2016 at 2 p.m. at Lindquist's Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd. Friends may visit with family on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. and on Saturday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the mortuary.