Tamara DeBlanc

Tamara DeBlanc Betty Tamara DeBlanc, longtime resident of Long Beach, passed away on November 10, 2010, at the age of 89. She was born April 1, 1921 in Russia. She was an only child. While her father was an officer in the in the White Russian Army, her mother was a ballet dancer. She was taken over the border to China by her mother shortly after birth while her father was away at war. They planned to reunite in the United States. As a child, Betty, who was known as Tamara, lived in China and Japan with various families as her mother went off to work for months at a time to support them. She worked as a ballet dancer. At last they came to live in Hawaii long before it was a state. Later they entered the U.S. via Vancouver and eventually found their way to Hollywood where many other Russian families had settled. Sadly her father lost his life in the line of duty. Betty attended Catholic school, Thomas Star King School and Hollywood High School. She married Paul Campbell and had a daughter, Donna. During WWII she worked as a riveter as so many women did. Later as she was single she worked as a carhop and met Fred DeBlanc who she was married to until her passing. They were married 63 years and had a daughter, Sandra.Betty was a homemaker and avid gardener. Her home was always decorated with fresh cut flowers. Betty is survived by her loving husband, Fred; daughters, Donna Smithson and Sandra Strouse. She had 5 grandchildren, Robert, Caleb and Paul Strouse, Jennifer Green and Col. Gus Green. She also had 5 great-grandchildren.