Lelon Belton Tobin, 61, of Blackville, died Sept. 24, 2009 at his residence.

Funeral service was held Sept. 28 at Blackville-Hilda High School auditorium, Blackville with burial in the Oakey Spring Baptist Church cemetery, Salley. Dash's Funeral Home of Blackville was in charge of the arrangements.

Mr. Tobin was born Dec. 29, 1947 in Salley. He was the son of Florrie Quattlebaum Tobin and the late Timothy Tobin Sr. He served in the Vietnam War as a paratrooper for the 173D Airborne Brigade.

He served many roles in the public school system. He was the first African-American assistant principal of Blackville-Hilda High School, he served as transportation supervisor, science teacher, adult education director, Junior Beta Club sponsor as well as several other positions. He later became the principal of A. L. Corbett Middle School in Wagener.

He was a member of Oakey Spring Baptist Church. He was predeceased by a sister, Mazalean Nannette Tobin and a brother, Timothy Tobin Jr.

Survivors include his wife, Lassie L. Tobin of the home; three children, Quetabala L. Tobin of Petal, Miss., Gwendolyn R. (Lowell) Davis of Cedar Hill, Texas and Lee Belton Tobin of the home; four brothers, Benjamin Tobin of Gastonia, N. C., McLean (Mae Vean) Tobin of Orangeburg, Milledge (Ernestine) Tobin of Aiken and Morris (Jeannette) Anderson of Aiken; one sister, Alice (James) Bush of Aiken; one uncle; two sisters-in-law, Marie Adams and Pansy (Gene) Brown; four brothers-in-law, Horace (LaVerne) Thompson, John Thompson, Alphonso (Shirley) Thompson and Julius (Wilhelmina) Thompson; a spiritual son, Clarence Jones and four grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be to the Lelon Belton Tobin Memorial Scholarship, 142 Tobin Circle, Blackville, SC 29817.

The People-Sentinel 10/07/09