Reuben, 87, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family.
Born to Earl Clayton and Georgia Dement Blackburn, Reuben spent his early years in Port Arthur, graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1938. Shortly after high school, he married his high school sweetheart, Ima Grace Warren. After high school, Reuben worked for Texaco in Port Arthur.
With WWII raging, Reuben felt compelled to serve his country joining the Army Air Force in January of 1943. Shortly after his enlistment, Reuben volunteered for pilot training winning his pilot's wings in November of 1943, and became qualified to fly the B-24 Liberator Bomber. In May of 1944, Reuben, and his crew of 9, flew a new B-24 to Guadalcanal where they joined the 13th Air Force, 5th Bomber Group. As a member of the 13th Air Force, Reuben flew forty three combat missions in the south Pacific bombing Japanese strongholds throughout the Pacific theatre including Yap Island, Corregidor, Balik Papan, and Cavite in the Philippines. He received numerous awards for his service, including the Air Medal with four oak clusters. He was honorably discharged from the Army in July of 1945.
After the war Reuben returned to Texaco in Port Arthur, and to a growing family that now included his two children, Wayne and Becky. To help make ends meet, Reuben worked part time as a junior accountant at Haskins and Levingston, a Port Arthur CPA firm. Being fascinated with the practice of accounting, Reuben left Texaco and joined the accounting firm full time. Seeing that an accounting degree would improve his prospects in the accounting profession, Reuben packed up his wife and two children, sold his home, and entered Texas A&M to pursue his goal. He graduated with honors in 2_ years. Following graduation from A&M, Reuben worked with several accounting firms in Houston and Beaumont. After passing the CPA exam in 1952, he opened an accounting practice which grew to become one of the largest private accounting firms in the Golden Triangle, now known as Lawrence, Blackburn, Meek and Maxie. He was also an officer in the Beaumont Kiwanis, and a member of the Board of Deacons at Cathedral in the Pines.
His brothers John, Cyrus and Paul; his sister Molly, and his grandson Troy Hamilton, preceded Reuben in death.
Survivors include his wife, Ima Grace, son Wayne, daughter and son-in-law Becky and Greg Mather. Reuben was blessed with five grandchildren and eight great grand children.
Born to Earl Clayton and Georgia Dement Blackburn, Reuben spent his early years in Port Arthur, graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1938. Shortly after high school, he married his high school sweetheart, Ima Grace Warren. After high school, Reuben worked for Texaco in Port Arthur.
With WWII raging, Reuben felt compelled to serve his country joining the Army Air Force in January of 1943. Shortly after his enlistment, Reuben volunteered for pilot training winning his pilot's wings in November of 1943, and became qualified to fly the B-24 Liberator Bomber. In May of 1944, Reuben, and his crew of 9, flew a new B-24 to Guadalcanal where they joined the 13th Air Force, 5th Bomber Group. As a member of the 13th Air Force, Reuben flew forty three combat missions in the south Pacific bombing Japanese strongholds throughout the Pacific theatre including Yap Island, Corregidor, Balik Papan, and Cavite in the Philippines. He received numerous awards for his service, including the Air Medal with four oak clusters. He was honorably discharged from the Army in July of 1945.
After the war Reuben returned to Texaco in Port Arthur, and to a growing family that now included his two children, Wayne and Becky. To help make ends meet, Reuben worked part time as a junior accountant at Haskins and Levingston, a Port Arthur CPA firm. Being fascinated with the practice of accounting, Reuben left Texaco and joined the accounting firm full time. Seeing that an accounting degree would improve his prospects in the accounting profession, Reuben packed up his wife and two children, sold his home, and entered Texas A&M to pursue his goal. He graduated with honors in 2_ years. Following graduation from A&M, Reuben worked with several accounting firms in Houston and Beaumont. After passing the CPA exam in 1952, he opened an accounting practice which grew to become one of the largest private accounting firms in the Golden Triangle, now known as Lawrence, Blackburn, Meek and Maxie. He was also an officer in the Beaumont Kiwanis, and a member of the Board of Deacons at Cathedral in the Pines.
His brothers John, Cyrus and Paul; his sister Molly, and his grandson Troy Hamilton, preceded Reuben in death.
Survivors include his wife, Ima Grace, son Wayne, daughter and son-in-law Becky and Greg Mather. Reuben was blessed with five grandchildren and eight great grand children.
Reuben, 87, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family.
Born to Earl Clayton and Georgia Dement Blackburn, Reuben spent his early years in Port Arthur, graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1938. Shortly after high school, he married his high school sweetheart, Ima Grace Warren. After high school, Reuben worked for Texaco in Port Arthur.
With WWII raging, Reuben felt compelled to serve his country joining the Army Air Force in January of 1943. Shortly after his enlistment, Reuben volunteered for pilot training winning his pilot's wings in November of 1943, and became qualified to fly the B-24 Liberator Bomber. In May of 1944, Reuben, and his crew of 9, flew a new B-24 to Guadalcanal where they joined the 13th Air Force, 5th Bomber Group. As a member of the 13th Air Force, Reuben flew forty three combat missions in the south Pacific bombing Japanese strongholds throughout the Pacific theatre including Yap Island, Corregidor, Balik Papan, and Cavite in the Philippines. He received numerous awards for his service, including the Air Medal with four oak clusters. He was honorably discharged from the Army in July of 1945.
After the war Reuben returned to Texaco in Port Arthur, and to a growing family that now included his two children, Wayne and Becky. To help make ends meet, Reuben worked part time as a junior accountant at Haskins and Levingston, a Port Arthur CPA firm. Being fascinated with the practice of accounting, Reuben left Texaco and joined the accounting firm full time. Seeing that an accounting degree would improve his prospects in the accounting profession, Reuben packed up his wife and two children, sold his home, and entered Texas A&M to pursue his goal. He graduated with honors in 2_ years. Following graduation from A&M, Reuben worked with several accounting firms in Houston and Beaumont. After passing the CPA exam in 1952, he opened an accounting practice which grew to become one of the largest private accounting firms in the Golden Triangle, now known as Lawrence, Blackburn, Meek and Maxie. He was also an officer in the Beaumont Kiwanis, and a member of the Board of Deacons at Cathedral in the Pines.
His brothers John, Cyrus and Paul; his sister Molly, and his grandson Troy Hamilton, preceded Reuben in death.
Survivors include his wife, Ima Grace, son Wayne, daughter and son-in-law Becky and Greg Mather. Reuben was blessed with five grandchildren and eight great grand children.
Born to Earl Clayton and Georgia Dement Blackburn, Reuben spent his early years in Port Arthur, graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1938. Shortly after high school, he married his high school sweetheart, Ima Grace Warren. After high school, Reuben worked for Texaco in Port Arthur.
With WWII raging, Reuben felt compelled to serve his country joining the Army Air Force in January of 1943. Shortly after his enlistment, Reuben volunteered for pilot training winning his pilot's wings in November of 1943, and became qualified to fly the B-24 Liberator Bomber. In May of 1944, Reuben, and his crew of 9, flew a new B-24 to Guadalcanal where they joined the 13th Air Force, 5th Bomber Group. As a member of the 13th Air Force, Reuben flew forty three combat missions in the south Pacific bombing Japanese strongholds throughout the Pacific theatre including Yap Island, Corregidor, Balik Papan, and Cavite in the Philippines. He received numerous awards for his service, including the Air Medal with four oak clusters. He was honorably discharged from the Army in July of 1945.
After the war Reuben returned to Texaco in Port Arthur, and to a growing family that now included his two children, Wayne and Becky. To help make ends meet, Reuben worked part time as a junior accountant at Haskins and Levingston, a Port Arthur CPA firm. Being fascinated with the practice of accounting, Reuben left Texaco and joined the accounting firm full time. Seeing that an accounting degree would improve his prospects in the accounting profession, Reuben packed up his wife and two children, sold his home, and entered Texas A&M to pursue his goal. He graduated with honors in 2_ years. Following graduation from A&M, Reuben worked with several accounting firms in Houston and Beaumont. After passing the CPA exam in 1952, he opened an accounting practice which grew to become one of the largest private accounting firms in the Golden Triangle, now known as Lawrence, Blackburn, Meek and Maxie. He was also an officer in the Beaumont Kiwanis, and a member of the Board of Deacons at Cathedral in the Pines.
His brothers John, Cyrus and Paul; his sister Molly, and his grandson Troy Hamilton, preceded Reuben in death.
Survivors include his wife, Ima Grace, son Wayne, daughter and son-in-law Becky and Greg Mather. Reuben was blessed with five grandchildren and eight great grand children.
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