Carl Eugene Blackledge Sr.

1919 - 2013

Carl Eugene Blackledge, Sr.

Laurel

Carl Eugene Blackledge, Sr., 94, of Laurel died on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013, at South Central Regional Medical Center in Laurel.

Services will be held at 4 p.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church in Laurel with burial in Ellisville Cemetery. Visitation will precede the services from 2 to 4 p.m. at the church. Rev. Mark Anderson will officiate.

Mr. Blackledge was born June 30, 1919, in Butler, Ala., the only child to Sidney Eugene and Ruby Kathryn Windham Blackledge. He graduated from Magee High School, attended Copiah-Lincoln Junior College and graduated from Jones County Junior College in 1940.

He entered active duty with the U.S. Army as second lieutenant in 1941, Camp Shelby. He was shipped to the Pacific Ocean area, Hawaiian Islands in March 1942. He graduated from Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 1944, received the rank of captain and landed with the invasion of Saipan in June 1944. He served on Gen. Chester Nimitz's staff as director of troop movement in Honolulu and Pearl Harbor from 1944-46 and was head of the New Orleans Port of Embarkment from 1946-47. He earned numerous medals during his service.

He returned to civilian life in November 1947 with the rank of major, Army of U.S. Reserve. He received an honorable discharge from the military in 1956.

From 1947 to 1968, Mr. Blackledge was vice president and general manager of Laurel Equipment Co., a major supplier of farm machinery, trucks and autos.

In 1968, he established Carl Volkswagen Inc. in Laurel as owner and general manager, later adding Chrysler and Datsun products.

Following his retirement in 1983, he established the Antiques Mart, and indulged his longtime interest in collecting antiques. He also enjoyed golf, travel and family gatherings.

Mr. Blackledge was active in his church, First United Methodist Church in Laurel, having served on the board of stewards. He was also very active in the community where he was a member and served on the board of directors of the Laurel Kiwanis Club, the Laurel Country Club, the Laurel Chamber of Commerce, the Laurel Jaycees, the American Legion and many other civic and professional organizations. All four of his children were educated in the Laurel City Schools, and he served as the first president of the PTA of R.H. Watkins High School from 1962-63.

Mr. Blackledge was also a cancer survivor of more than 37 years.

He is survived by his beloved wife of over 71 years, Mary Lucile Robinson Blackledge; son, Carl E. Blackledge, Jr. (Jane), of Laurel; and daughters, Marilyn Blackledge Biglane (Kenny) of Laurel; Gay Blackledge Kirkland (Tom) of Ridgeland; and Robin Blackledge Blair (Bruce) of Hattiesburg; eight grandchildren, Dana Biglane Burwell (Todd) of Madison; Peter Biglane (Karen) of Laurel; Kelsey Blackledge of Fort Worth, Texas; Carl Blackledge III of New Orleans; Kendall BiglaneTempleton (Tad) of Birmingham; Trey Kirkland, Mary Jordan Kirkland and Kathleen Kirkland, all of Ridgeland; and eight great-grandchildren, Josh, Mary Hannah and Will Peyton Burwell; Sophie and Ainsley Biglane; and Henry, Lucy and Alice Templeton.

Moore Funeral Home of Hattiesburg is in charge of arrangements.

Memorial gifts may be made to First United Methodist Church of Laurel, 420 N 5th Ave, Laurel, MS 39440.