Hassel Blackburn, 79, of Portsmouth died Sunday, April 11, 2010 at Chillicothe V.A. Hospital. He was born Sept. 12, 1930 in South Webster, a son of the late George W. and Vestie Mullins Blackburn. He was a member of Lombardsville Community Church, James Dickey Post 23, American Legion and the DAV; he was a U.S. Army veteran having served in the Korean War and was retired from the former Empire Detroit Steel Corp. He is survived by his wife, Hazel Cartee Blackburn; two sons, David Blackburn and wife Deborah of Chillicothe, Danny Blackburn and wife Julie of Otway; three brothers, Truman Blackburn of Stone, KY., Eugene Blackburn of Portsmouth and Carl Parsons of Wheelersburg; three sisters, Aileen Sultzer of Loraine, Gay Patrick of South Webster and Juanita Frawlini of Franklin Furnace; 5 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. Services will be 1 PM Thursday, April 15, 2010 at D.W. Swick Funeral Home in New Boston with Pastor George Vastine officiating. Burial will be at Haverhill cemetery with military graveside rites by James Dickey Post 23, American Legion. Visitation will be Wednesday 5 to 8 PM and Thursday 12 to 1 PM at D.W. Swick in New Boston. Online condolences to dwswickfuneralhome.com.