George G. Blackburn

Who was George G. Blackburn?

George Gideon Blackburn, CM, MC was a decorated Canadian veteran of World War II, a playwright and award winning author. Born in Wales, Ontario, Blackburn worked as a newspaper reporter for the Ottawa Journal in Pembroke, Ontario.

This is a copy of the obituary for George G. Blackburn that was sent to the newspapers announcing his passing: OBITUARY FOR GEORGE G. BLACKBURN

"Peacefully, in his sleep, at 11:11 a.m. November 15, 2006, in his 90th year at Ottawa ’s General Hospital where he’d been diagnosed with cancer. Predeceased by his wife of 60 years Grace Fortington, four years ago. Survived by three children, daughter Andrea of Tallahassee, Florida, his sons Mark of Winnipeg and Ron of Ottawa . George G. Blackburn is also survived by grandchildren Kim, David, Aaron, Ben, and Maxine, and by great-grandchildren Victoria, Matthew, Thomas, Emily, Lochlan, Madeleine and Luke.

A man of many talents, he suddenly found himself, late in life, with hundreds of new friends from around the world after authoring a WWII book trilogy, the first of which “Guns of Normandy,” was winner ten years ago of the Ottawa Citizen Book of the Year Award.