Frank M. Blanchard

FRANK M. BLANCHARD

Captain, U.S. Navy (Retired)

Of Virginia Beach, VA, passed away on October 3, 2004 at the age of 85. Captain Blanchard, a native of Warsaw, MO, was the son of the late Paul M. and Sudie Rouse Blanchard of Warsaw. He was the surviving spouse of his beloved wife of 57 years, the late Eleanor Meuth Blanchard, a native of Skidmore, TX. Captain Blanchard entered the U. S. Navy in March of 1941 as an Aviation Cadet and served his country for over 31 years until his retirement in June of 1972. During World War II, he served as commanding officer of Composite Squadron Ninety-One, a Squadron of 20 fighter and 12 torpedo bomber aircraft flying from three different aircraft carriers against the Japanese. Prior to his retirement, he held five different commands, served aboard the first aircraft carrier to circumnavigate the globe, the first aircraft carrier to operate in the Persian Gulf, and was able to see his two sons graduate from the U. S. Naval Academy and be commissioned in the Navy that he loved so well.

After retirement in 1972, Captain Blanchard commissioned and headed the first Navy Junior ROTC unit at Granby High School in Norfolk, VA. He served there until his second retirement in 1981, completing over 40 years in the uniform of the U. S. Navy.

Captain Blanchard received his Bachelors Degree in Physics from William Jewell College, Liberty, MO, in 1940 and his Masters Degree in Education from The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., in 1974. He was also a graduate of the U. S. Navy General Line School, Monterey, CA, and the U. S. Naval War College, Newport, RI. Captain Blanchard is survived by two sons and their families, Commander Frank M. Blanchard, U. S. Navy (Retired), his wife, Karen, and their children Brooke, Laura Anne, Trey,

and Bryan; and by son, Captain Robert K. Blanchard, U.S. Navy (Retired) and his wife, Deborah, and their sons, Michael and David, of Virginia Beach, VA. He is also survived by a brother, Dr. Gerald L. Blanchard and his wife, Grace, of Durham, CA, as well as by many nieces and nephews in Texas and California. An older brother, Paul Jr., died in infancy in 1918.

Captain Blanchard was a member of the Army-Navy Country Club in Arlington, VA and the Princess Anne Country Club in Virginia Beach. An avid golfer, he was proud to include among his four holes in one, aces at each of his country clubs. He was an active member of the Virginia Beach Sports Club, the Association of Naval Aviation, the Retired Officers Association, the Naval Academy Athletic Association, and the Tailhook Association. Captain and Mrs. Blanchard had long been members of the First Presbyterian Church of Virginia Beach, where he had served first as a deacon and then as an elder, and Mrs. Blanchard had served as a member of the Flower Guild. He was especially pleased to be included as a member of the Men's Prayer Breakfast Group of Galilee Episcopal Church for over 20 years.

A funeral service for Captain Blanchard will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Virginia Beach at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, October 6, 2004 by Reverend Dr. Dwight O. Christenbury. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery where he will join Mrs. Blanchard. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. at H.D. OLIVER FUNERAL APTS., Laskin Road Chapel, Virginia Beach, VA. In lieu of flowers it is requested that memorial gifts be made to the First Presbyterian Church Building Fund or to the Eleanor Blanchard Memorial Garden of the Bay Colony Garden Club, c/o Mrs. Rhonda Byrd, 1113 Cedar Point Dr., Virginia Beach, VA 23451.