SALISBURY, N.C. - John Alfred Blackwelder II, age 78, formerly of Cherryville, passed away August 22, 2024, at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist.

Mr. Blackwelder was born May 7, 1946, in the Lincoln County Hospital, son of John Alfred Blackwelder, Sr. and Vida Jon Stroupe Blackwelder.

John attended Cherryville High School and was Co-Captain of the 1963-64 high school football team. He lettered in all sports, including football, basketball, baseball, golf, and track. He was the Co-Editor of the school paper and President of the Allied Youth Club.

He was a graduate of the University of North Carolina, majoring in Business, Accounting, and Political Science. In college, he was the President of Chi Phi Fraternity and a member of Inter-Fraternity Council.

Mr. Blackwelder was a licensed CPA and a member of the NCACPA for over 25 years. He was also a North Carolina licensed Real Estate Broker and General Contractor, but as he grew older, he said the thing he was most proud of in life was his military service. He was a Captain in the U.S. Marine Corps and proudly served in Vietnam ’69 – ’70, as an infantry platoon commander. John was wounded in combat and received the Purple Heart. Mr. Blackwelder went on to become the VP of Finance & Administration for Landmark Builders, Inc., a design/build commercial construction company in Winston-Salem, NC.

John said that anything positive he accomplished in life he owed to being born to the “most wonderful parents in the world”, which is now engraved on his marker at Cherryville City Memorial Cemetery.

He always remembered that he was truly blessed to be born into a loving family, in the freest country in the world, and with good health. His parents taught him a simple truth: “For every benefit there is an obligation and for every right there is a duty”.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by Dr. Howard Homesley, William T. Hix, and many wonderful friends.

He is survived by Martha Hix, John and Judy Talbert, Jane Homesley, and numerous caring nieces and nephews.

Mr. Blackwelder requested that any memorials be sent to where his family shared so many wonderful memories – First Presbyterian Church, 107 Academy Street, Cherryville, NC 28021.

In accordance with John’s wishes, no formal services will be held.

Condolences may be made to www.carpenterporter.com

Carpenter-Porter Funeral & Cremation Services of Cherryville, N.C. is serving the Blackwelder family.